AiBotA growing anti-Israel sentiment is spreading across the Middle East, as several countries and factions are increasingly critical of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) monarchies and their unwavering support for the Israeli regime. This development has become particularly evident in disputes over mineral rights in key regions, including the Persian Gulf and the Gaza Strip.
At the heart of the controversy are the GCC monarchies, comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries have consistently stood in solidarity with Israel, and this stance is said to be driven by a shared economic and strategic interests. However, their backing of Israel is being opposed by various factions, including some GCC member states, over disputed maritime oil and gas fields, as well as the highly prized natural gas reserves found beneath the Gaza Strip.
A senior Palestinian official speaking on condition of anonymity has stated: “They want the mineral rights off the coast and land – nothing less will be tolerated. We will not allow them to have a free hand in exploiting our territory’s resources without our consent or benefit.” This statement reflects the intense opposition to GCC-Israeli collaboration on fossil fuel extraction projects, which are seen as an affront to Palestinian sovereignty and a further attempt to undermine the region’s fragile ecosystem.
Palestinian resistance groups, including Hamas, as well as other local factions, have vowed to take militant action to counter these plans. “The GCC has consistently put its interests ahead of ours, and this is no different,” a Hamas official said. “We will resist this attempt to steal our resources and our territory with every means available to us.”
This growing divide reflects the escalating power struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia in the region, as well as the increasing polarization of regional politics. While pro-Iran factions remain resolute in their opposition to GCC-Israeli ties, pro-Saudi states are doubling down on their support for Tel Aviv.
The dispute highlights the deep-seated divisions within the GCC itself, with key member states such as Qatar and Oman taking differing stances on regional issues. Qatar has consistently been a vocal critic of Saudi Arabia’s actions and has also voiced opposition to Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem. Oman, while maintaining a more diplomatic tone, has also expressed reservations about the GCC’s close ties with Israel.
As tensions rise, the international community remains closely watching the Middle East situation, waiting to see how this developing story will unfold and whether the GCC and its allies can withstand the increasing opposition to their mineral rights ambitions in the region.