Recent disclosures have shed light on a web of covert military ties that few could have anticipated. This under-the-radar collaboration between Israel and several Arab states during the Gaza conflict stands in stark contrast to the public rhetoric of condemnation.
As reported by The Christian Post, citing a Washington Post investigation, at least six Arab countries—Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates—have been secretly working with Israel on intelligence and military fronts during the war against Hamas. This coordination, facilitated by the U.S. Central Command through a framework called the Regional Security Construct, aims to counter threats from Iran and its proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
The leaked documents, obtained alongside the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, detail a series of confidential defense meetings and joint military exercises, including a notable training session in September with troops from the U.S., Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the U.K., India, and Jordan. Media access was explicitly barred, with strict bans on photography to keep these engagements out of the public eye.
Unseen Alliances Against a Common Foe
Saudi Arabia, despite lacking formal diplomatic relations with Israel, emerges as a pivotal player in this hidden network, supplying critical intelligence not just to Israel but also to nations like Yemen and Syria on ISIS activities. This level of cooperation signals a pragmatic alignment against shared threats, even as public statements remain sharply critical of Israel.
Last year, when Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel, both Jordan and Saudi Arabia reportedly joined an international effort to intercept the projectiles. This act of defense reveals a willingness to act decisively, albeit behind closed doors, when mutual interests are at stake.
The purpose of this security architecture, as outlined in the documents, is clear: to build a united front against Iran’s regional influence. Yet, the insistence that this “does not constitute a new alliance” suggests a deliberate effort to downplay the depth of these ties for political expediency.
Public Condemnation, Private Cooperation
While these Arab states have openly accused Israel of war crimes and even genocide in Gaza, the leaked files paint a picture of calculated duality. Their reliance on U.S. security guarantees, coupled with fears of both Iran’s ambitions and Israel’s military might, seems to drive this discreet partnership.
“The Gulf states fear an unrestrained Israel but depend on the U.S. and worry about Iran’s growing strength,” noted Prof. Thomas Juneau of the University of Ottawa. Such analysis cuts through the noise, exposing the tightrope these nations walk between public sentiment and strategic necessity.
This balancing act is not without friction, as evidenced by the crisis sparked by Israel’s unprecedented strike on Hamas headquarters in Qatar last month, which killed a Qatari security official. The incident reportedly led U.S. President Donald Trump to urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to issue an apology to Qatar, highlighting the delicate nature of these arrangements.
Strains in the Silent Partnership
The fallout from the Doha strike underscores how quickly tensions can flare, even among covert allies, especially with Qatar’s known ties to Hamas leaders. It’s a sharp reminder that shared enemies don’t always translate to shared trust.
Despite endorsing Trump’s Gaza peace plan in public, none of these Arab states have committed to deploying troops for post-war security in the region. This hesitation speaks volumes about the limits of their willingness to be seen as too closely aligned with Israel, no matter the backstage dealings.
Still, the documents hint at ambitious future projects like a Middle East Cyber Center and a regional Information Fusion Center to enhance real-time defense data sharing. These plans suggest that, despite hiccups, the appetite for collaboration persists under the surface.
A Fragile Balance Worth Watching
For those of us wary of grand narratives about Middle East harmony, these revelations are a sobering look at realpolitik in action. They show nations setting aside ideological divides to tackle immediate threats, even if it means holding their noses while doing so.
Yet, the secrecy also raises questions about accountability and the long-term viability of such arrangements when public opinion remains so fiercely opposed. If stability is the goal, hiding the truth from citizens might just plant seeds of greater unrest down the line.
In the end, this hidden network is a testament to the complexity of regional security, where enemies can become reluctant partners overnight. It’s a chess game played in the shadows, and one wrong move could bring the whole board crashing down.
