UAE to resume Gaza aid airdrops immediately, says Sheikh Abdullah
The United Arab Emirates will resume aid drops over Gaza at once, its foreign minister said on Saturday, citing the "critical" humanitarian situation in the blockaded territory, where aid groups have warned of mass starvation.
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, 'The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a critical and unprecedented level.
In a post today on his account on the social media platform "X," Sheikh Abdullah said: "We will continue delivering relief support to those most in need - by land, air, and sea," reaffirming the immediate resumption of airdrop operations for humanitarian aid.
Sheikh Abdullah stressed that the UAE's commitment to alleviating suffering and supporting the Palestinian people is resolute and unwavering.
The United Arab Emirates remains at the forefront of efforts to deliver life-saving assistance to the Palestinian people. We will ensure essential aid reaches those most in need, whether through land, air or sea.
These remarks come as the UAE continues, through various humanitarian initiatives, to send urgent relief and medical aid to the Gaza Strip in an effort to alleviate the humanitarian crisis faced by its residents.
The UAE is among the leading nations that responded quickly at the outset of the crisis by establishing both air and sea bridges to aid those affected. This includes the launch of the "Birds of Goodness" operation, during which dozens of airdrops of food and relief supplies have been conducted over the Strip.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Netherlands bans Israeli ministers, urges EU sanctions over Gaza
The Dutch government has barred two of Israel's far-right ministers from entering the country, citing their incitement of violence and support for ethnic cleansing. '[National Security Minister] Itamar Ben Gvir and [Finance Minister] Bezalel Smotrich are no longer welcome here,' Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp announced late on Monday. The Netherlands formally declared both men as persona non grata and pledged to enter their names into the Schengen Area's registry of undesirable individuals. Defending the move in parliament, Veldkamp said the pair had 'repeatedly incited violence against the Palestinian population, persistently advocated for the expansion of illegal settlements, and called for ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip.' 'These actions and statements are beyond justification,' he added. 'The cabinet has taken this step because their conduct undermines any prospect for peace and breaches fundamental principles of international law.' New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Ben Gvir lashed out on social media, declaring: 'Even if I'm banned from entering all of Europe, I will continue to fight for our country," adding that "in Europe, as is often the case, the victim is blamed.' He continued: 'In a place where terrorism is tolerated and terrorists are welcomed, a Jewish minister from Israel is unwelcome, terrorists are free, and Jews are boycotted.' 'The people of Gaza must be given immediate, unfettered, safe access to humanitarian aid' - Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof In his statement, Veldkamp also revealed that since 7 October 2023, the Dutch government had rejected eleven export licences for military equipment or dual-use items destined for Israel. However, it did approve two licences related to components for the Iron Dome missile defence system. Veldkamp said Israel's ambassador to the Netherlands would be summoned for urgent discussions. 'We will ask him to urge [Israeli] Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu's government to change course,' he stated. 'The current situation is intolerable and morally bankrupt.' On Monday, Middle East Eye reported that Netherlands has named Israel as a foreign threat to the country's national security for the first time, citing disinformation campaigns endangering the lives of Dutch citizens. A report published by the National Coordinator for Security and Counter-terrorism (NCTV) says that Israel attempted to influence public opinion and politics in the country by circulating documents directly to Dutch journalists and politicians instead of using the official diplomatic channels. Deepening tensions between Netherlands and Israel The diplomatic row escalated further on Monday after Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof warned of potential European Union sanctions against Israel over its conduct in Gaza. In a strongly worded social media post, Schoof said he had convened an emergency meeting with senior ministers to address what he described as the 'catastrophic' conditions in the besieged enclave. Dutch intelligence report identifies Israel as a foreign threat for first time Read More » "The people of Gaza must be given immediate, unfettered, safe access to humanitarian aid. If the EU decides tomorrow that Israel is not in compliance with the relevant agreements on this, the Netherlands supports the plan to suspend Israeli participation in the EU research programme Horizon," said Schoof. He added that additional measures, potentially affecting trade, might also be considered. Israeli President Isaac Herzog responded angrily, accusing Schoof of misrepresenting the tone and content of their recent phone call. 'Sorry, Prime Minister, with all due respect this tweet does not reflect the spirit or the details of our phone call,' Herzog posted. 'Nor does it reflect my crystal-clear position: it will be a huge mistake if the EU takes such steps, especially in light of Israel's ongoing and upgraded humanitarian efforts.' The Netherlands becomes the seventh country to sanction Ben Gvir and Smotrich, joining the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and Slovenia.
Middle East Eye
12 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Israeli air strikes on Gaza City and Nuseirat refugee camp kill at least eight Palestinians
At least eight Palestinian civilians were killed and several others injured on Monday in two separate Israeli air strikes on Gaza City and the Nuseirat refugee camp, Wafa news agency reported. Israeli drones targeted a group of civilians on al-Rasheed Street in Gaza City, leading to the death of five people and injuring several others. Three more civilians were killed in another Israeli air strike on a tent in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The official death toll in the Gaza Strip has reached almost 60,000 people.
Middle East Eye
13 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
US calls Saudi and French-led conference on two-state solution a 'publicity stunt'
The United States on Monday lashed out at a United Nations conference promoting a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict that was hosted by its close allies France and Saudi Arabia. The US State Department labelled the three-day event "unproductive and ill-timed", as well as a "publicity stunt" that would make finding peace harder. The diplomatic push is a "reward for terrorism", the statement said. The US deployed even harsher words against French President Emmanuel Macron, calling his decision to recognise a Palestinian state last week 'counterproductive', saying its Nato ally's decision 'undercuts our diplomatic efforts'. France is hoping that the UK will follow its lead. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters More than 200 British members of parliament voiced support for the idea on Friday, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer has resisted. Middle East Eye has revealed that the US pressured both the UK and France against recognising Palestine earlier this year. The conference kicked off on Monday in New York City, with participants reaffirming that there is "no alternative" to the conflict besides a two-state solution. France and Saudi Arabia's leadership of the event underscores how the US's unchecked support for Israel's war on Gaza is putting its diplomacy at odds with key partners. "Only a political, two-state solution will help respond to the legitimate aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. There is no alternative," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said at the start of the three-day meeting. UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said at the meeting that "the two-state solution is farther than ever before", decrying Israel's "creeping annexation" of the occupied West Bank and "the wholesale destruction of Gaza". The meeting comes as Gaza descends into famine as a result of Israel's siege of the enclave. Hundreds of starving Palestinians have been killed trying to obtain food from the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation that is backed by the US and Israel. Deaths from famine and malnutrition have soared in recent days. US asked Saudi Arabia to send missile interceptors to Israel during Iran conflict. Riyadh refused Read More » US President Donald Trump was asked about the famine on Monday and did not dispute it. 'That's real starvation stuff,' Trump said. 'I see it, you can't fake that.' 'Those children look very hungry,' he said. 'We have to get the kids fed.' But Trump has continued to fault Hamas for the crisis, claiming the group is stealing aid despite a US government assessment contradicting that accusation. More than two dozen of the US's allies - including countries traditionally close to Israel - have accused it of 'drip feeding' aid into Gaza. The Trump administration has clashed with Israel on several issues - including striking an independent ceasefire with the Houthis in Yemen and condemning Israeli strikes on Syria - but has given it full backing for Israel to wage war on Gaza. Last week, Trump announced that the US was pulling out of ceasefire talks. He blamed Hamas for the impasse, a move analysts say was in keeping with more than two years of US messaging to provide cover to Israel for acts of genocide in Gaza, according to two major Israeli human rights groups and scores of western organisations. "It's widely understood that there are no real strategic objectives to fulfill militarily unless the ultimate goal is displacement," Michael Hanna, a Middle East expert at the International Crisis Group, told MEE previously. "In the meantime, it appears the US is willing to stand by as famine deepens throughout Gaza." Even as the US criticised the UN summit, its top participants tried to entice Trump back to talks. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud said Trump could be a "catalyst" to ending the war in Gaza and jump-starting the two-state solution. Trump has regularly said he wants to strike a normalisation deal with Saudi Arabia and Israel, building on the 2020 Abraham Accords, which he considers a signature foreign policy achievement. Riyadh says to achieve that goal, Israel would need to take irreversible steps towards the creation of a Palestinian state, with a ceasefire in Gaza the first precondition. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said publicly that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Beyond facilitating conditions for the recognition of a Palestinian state, the three days of meeting will focus on three other issues, including the reform of the Palestinian Authority, disarmament of Hamas and normalisation of relations with Israel by Arab states as part of a two-state solution.
