UAE Reaffirms Solidarity With Palestinian People, Stresses Support In Gaza

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reiterated its strong support for the Palestinian people, particularly those in the Gaza Strip, during challenging times. This reaffirmation came through the participation of Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, at a ministerial conference focused on establishing a humanitarian maritime corridor for Gaza. The event, hosted in Cyprus, saw the presence of notable figures including Dr. Konstantinos Kompos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Sigrid Kaag, Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, and representatives from various United Nations agencies and international organizations.

Al Hashimy highlighted the UAE's dedication to working with global partners to ensure the rapid and efficient delivery of aid to Gaza's most vulnerable populations. She underscored the importance of activating the maritime corridor as a critical route for delivering essential supplies, especially to northern Gaza. This initiative aims to complement existing land crossings and expedite aid delivery.

The UAE marked a significant achievement by dispatching the first ship loaded with 200 tonnes of food aid to northern Gaza in collaboration with the World Central Kitchen. Al Hashimy stressed the UAE's ongoing commitment to bolstering these humanitarian efforts to ensure aid is distributed fairly and effectively.

Furthermore, Al Hashimy pointed out that resolving the crisis in Gaza necessitates a long-term ceasefire, resumption of political dialogue, and steps towards a two-state solution that includes an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.

The UAE's humanitarian initiatives for Gaza under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan have been extensive. The "Gallant Knight 3" operation has delivered over 25,000 tonnes of humanitarian, food, and medical aid via three ships, 216 aircraft, and around 1,000 trucks. Additionally, the UAE has contributed to healthcare by setting up a field hospital in Gaza and a hospital ship in Al-Arish, Egypt. This is part of an initiative to provide comprehensive medical care to 1,000 wounded children and 1,000 cancer patients from Gaza in UAE hospitals.

In efforts to address water scarcity issues in Gaza, the UAE has also established desalination plants capable of producing 1.2 million gallons of drinking water per day. These initiatives underscore the UAE's unwavering commitment to supporting the Palestinian people during their time of need.

With inputs from WAM