Policy Brief: Gulf States and the Palestinian Cause:Geopolitical Shifts across the Two U.S.Presidencies
By: Omar Shaban
This policy brief analyses the Gulf states’ growing engagement with the Palestinian cause amid the Gaza war and the broader geopolitical shifts it has triggered since October 7, 2023. The conflict has revived international attention on Palestine and repositioned the issue as both a humanitarian crisis and a strategic tool reshaping alliance across the Middle East and influencing Gulf–U.S. relations under the contrasting approaches of Trump and Biden presidencies.
Since October 7, 2023, the Gaza war has catalysed major geopolitical shifts, transforming Gulf involvement in the Palestinian cause from symbolic to strategic. Countries like Spain, Norway, and Ireland formally recognized Palestine, raising global diplomatic pressure. Saudi Arabia responded by forming an international coalition for a two-state solution and co-chairing UN efforts with France. This surge in Gulf advocacy coincides with a broader recalibration of U.S. relations under Biden and Trump. The war’s humanitarian toll has amplified Arab public pressure, expanding Gulf influence in U.S.–Palestinian dynamics.
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