The Palestinian Authority (PA) officially attacked in a wide scope Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative. The criticism came after he made statements unveiling the complicity of the UAE regime with the Israeli occupation during its war against Gaza.
The official statement came from Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency. He labeled Barghouti’s comments as “offensive” to the United Arab Emirates. He emphasised that “this rhetoric does not reflect the stance of the State of Palestine.” The irony is that Abu Rudeineh has previously been one of the strongest opponents of the UAE’s normalization with Israel, highlighting a significant contradiction in the Authority’s position.
Mustafa Barghouti is infamous for his open support of the resistance. He justified himself by saying that he was condemning the Emirati regime, and not the Emirati people. He said, “It is unfortunate that the institutions of the Authority are being used to attack national voices,” and further added that the campaign is attempting to silence voices that will not compromise on Palestinian rights.
The attack is one of a media campaign by the PA against Barghouti since the Gaza War started in October 2023. The latest accusations are related to a video that seems to have condemned the UAE rulers for their normalisation policy towards Israel and the Abraham Accords.
PA criticises Mustafa Barghouti for UAE remarks during Gaza conflict
Barghouti observes that in Arab nations, such as the UAE, the issue is a rising generational apathy towards the Palestinian cause.
“They [the younger generation in the UAE] perceive themselves as cosmopolitans. They don’t view themselves as being part of the Arab world in the same manner. They don’t really identify with the Palestinian cause. they view it as some sort of hangover from another period,”
he said.
Barghouti made the remark in reference to his firm stand on the Arab—and Emirati, especially—silence over the Gaza genocide since October 7. He has appeared in Arab and global media as one of the most unwavering voices that challenge the Israeli narrative with purpose and courage.
The Authority, which is supposed to be the defender of national resistance leaders, is now accused of complicity by targeting independent Palestinian leaders. This assault was met with a wave of solidarity from activists, journalists, and social media users, many of whom view Barghouti as one of the last remaining free voices in the official Palestinian sphere.
In the midst of this decline, there is a grave question about the actual priorities of the Palestinian Authority: Will it continue to pursue patriotic opposition leaders while Palestinians are drowning in their own blood? Or has the matter passed beyond political disagreement and become a struggle over the independence of national decision-making?
Public responses indicated that Barghouti continues to command wide trust, one of the few being steadfastly anti-occupation, uncompromising throughout without favor or submission.