A seemingly mundane infrastructure announcement by the UAE has set off a storm on Arabic-language social media, with pundits accusing Abu Dhabi of seeking to dig up militants’ tunnels and plant Israeli spy devices. Palestinians in Gaza pushed back: ‘Hamas mouthpieces,’ one wrote
Nagham Zbeedat. Feb 2, 2025
The UAE announced on Saturday a project to repair sewage networks in various areas of Khan Yunis as part of its ongoing efforts under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, according to the Emirates News Agency. The initiative aims to address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where almost no infrastructure remains intact. But this seemingly unexceptional statement has triggered a wave of conspiracy theories on Arabic-language social media.
Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 is an initiative launched by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed in collaboration with the Joint Operations Command at the Ministry of Defense and other partners, to support Gazans.
Over the course of the 15-month war, the operation has organized multiple aid campaigns, dispatching trucks loaded with food, clothing, and essential materials, as well as medical aid, including equipment, supplies, and medicines.
The news agency quoted state officials who said the project aims to repair severe damage to sewage and water networks in the Strip, help prevent environmental disasters and improve living conditions for Khan Yunis residents. In a Facebook post, the Khan Yunis municipality and its mayor, Alaa Addin Al-Batta, acknowledged the UAE’s efforts to “ease the suffering of residents and lift the burden off the people.”
However, the Emirati initiative sparked an unusual backlash on Arabic-language social media, with users questioning the focus on sewage networks, speculating that the Gulf country’s true intent might be targeting Hamas tunnels in Gaza.
Mustafa Ashour, an Egyptian TV host at Al Jazeera Mubasher, wrote in a post on X: “Why sewage specifically? Why not schools, universities, roads, hospitals, and heavy machinery to remove rubble? Why not electricity networks?” Ashour expressed his gratitude but directed a warning to the UAE that “digging in Gazan land is sacred to Gazans.”
Tunisian politician and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rafik Abdessalem, accused the UAE of using the sewage network as an “intelligence project” to spy both above and below ground, alleging that Abu Dhabi’s real intent was to uncover Hamas tunnels and to plant eavesdropping devices and surveillance cameras inside the pipes on behalf of the Israeli army. He described these projects as being “disguised with mercy but filled with torment.”
Mamdouh Hamza, an Egyptian engineer convicted by his government of “inciting terrorism and violence” over anti-government posts, attacked the UAE’s initiative. Hamza, who is in self-imposed exile, wrote on X: “Heroes of Gaza, do not let the Emirati country enter your land,” adding that “sewage network = looking for tunnels.” He argued that if the UAE genuinely intended to help, they would have simply “paid money” for other parties to handle the reconstruction of the Strip.
Kamal Sharaf, a Yemeni cartoonist known for his political and social commentary, shared an illustration on X depicting an Israeli soldier holding an Emirati man shaped like a shoulder-held missile. He captioned the post, “UAE launches Operation ‘Chivalrous Knight,'” mocking the Emirati initiative and suggesting its true aim is to “maintain the sewage tunnels in Gaza.”
However, some Palestinians in Gaza pushed back against these accusations, dismissing them as propaganda from the “[Islamic Brotherhood] media and Hamas mouthpieces.” They defended the project and expressed gratitude for the UAE’s role in implementing the sewage network repairs.
Behind the criticism of the UAE lies its 2020 decision to normalize relations with Israel by signing the Abraham Accords. It was seen as a betrayal by many Palestinians, who accused Abu Dhabi of prioritizing its own economic and strategic interests by sacrificing Palestinian self-determination and weakening a united Arab front against Israeli policies in the occupied territories.