Mauritania is expected to restore diplomatic relations with Israel following a high-level meeting at the White House mediated by former U.S. President Donald Trump. According to reports by U.S. media outlet Semafor, the meeting will bring together Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of a mini U.S.-Africa summit in Washington.

The reported normalization marks a significant shift in Mauritania's foreign policy, reopening ties that were severed in 2010 after Israel’s war on Gaza. That conflict, which resulted in widespread destruction and civilian casualties, triggered anger across the Arab world and led Nouakchott to close its embassy in Tel Aviv.

Restoration Amid Gaza War And Global Scrutiny

The move comes at a time when Israel faces global condemnation for its ongoing military operations in Gaza, which human rights groups and international legal experts have described as genocide. While the Trump-brokered discussions are being promoted as a diplomatic achievement, critics argue they are aimed at providing political legitimacy to Israel during one of the deadliest campaigns in the region in recent years.

Mauritania joins a growing list of Arab and African states approached by the U.S. to normalize relations with Israel under the framework of what Trump had previously labeled the "Abraham Accords." Supporters of the initiative say it promotes regional stability and economic cooperation, but opponents claim it ignores the core issues of occupation, human rights violations, and the Palestinian cause.

Arab League Member Shifts Position

Mauritania’s reengagement with Israel is particularly notable as it is one of nine African countries — alongside Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Libya, Somalia, Tunisia, Mali, and Niger — that either do not recognize Israel or have suspended diplomatic ties. As a member of the Arab League, Mauritania’s move could influence broader regional calculations, especially among North and West African states.

While the Mauritanian and Israeli governments have not officially confirmed the normalization deal, diplomatic sources suggest the announcement could follow the Washington meeting. If finalized, the agreement would mark a continuation of the Trump administration’s push to redraw the geopolitical map of the Middle East and North Africa by bypassing the unresolved status of Palestine.