UAE to Fund First Planned Gaza City, Requires Biometric Data for Entry

The United Arab Emirates plans to build a new, fully planned community in southern Gaza. The project would be located on the outskirts of the city of Rafah. Planning documents call it a "case study" community. It would provide residents with basic services like schools, healthcare, and running water. To gain entry and access these services, future Palestinian residents must agree to biometric data collection. This means providing physical identifiers like fingerprints. They must also pass security checks. The proposal was discussed at recent talks in Israel's US-led Civil Military Coordination Center. It represents the UAE's first direct investment in a reconstruction project within the part of Gaza currently controlled by Israel. Since October 2023, the UAE has given over $1.8 billion in humanitarian aid to Gaza. This makes it the territory's largest donor.