ABU DHABI (Dispatches) – Construction on a railway corridor linking the UAE to Israeli-occupied territories has quietly advanced, Israeli media report, even as Israel’s military aggression continues to devastate Gaza. 
Officials describe the work as already in an “advanced stage,” underscoring a stark prioritization of commerce and strategic influence over human life.
The rail line, euphemistically branded the “Peace Railway” in Israeli outlets, is designed to transport goods from India through the Persian Gulf and onward to Haifa for export to Europe and the United States. A significant portion of the infrastructure is reportedly complete.
Israeli transportation minister Miri Regev reportedly traveled to Abu Dhabi last week with a secretive delegation to revive coordination on the project. A technical team from Israel’s so-called transport ministry also visited the UAE in recent days to accelerate planning. These visits took place while Gaza endured ongoing bombardment, highlighting the cynicism of pursuing trade routes amid widespread civilian suffering.
The initiative, first proposed by the United States in 2018 and later incorporated into the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), is intended to carry not only cargo but also communications cables, pipelines, and energy transmission lines.
Goods would travel from India’s Mundra Port by sea, cross the UAE, and continue overland through Saudi Arabia and Jordan before reaching Haifa. Reports indicate the corridor could allow perishable products to reach Israeli occupied territories within hours, contingent on agreements with Saudi Arabia and Emirati authorities.
The project’s rapid progression is further motivated by competition from France and Turkey, which are promoting an alternate route through Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, bypassing Israeli occupied territories entirely. Senior Israeli and Emirati officials have reportedly agreed to form a joint administration to finalize the remaining segments of the corridor.
Critically, Israeli media note that the UAE pressed ahead with planning and regional coordination while Israel focused on military operations in Gaza. The result is a commercial corridor advancing without regard for the lives lost in Gaza, demonstrating a disturbing alignment of strategic and economic interests over humanitarian concerns.