UAE Bolsters Humanitarian Response in Gaza, Amplifying Aid and Assistance

The UAE welcomed the ceasefire implementation and prisoner exchanges in Gaza during a UN Security Council session, while announcing two ships loaded with emergency supplies will arrive next week. The country also strongly condemned Israeli calls to annex the West Bank, calling it a clear violation of international law.

Ambassador Mohammed Abu Shahab, the UAE's permanent representative to the UN, said the past two years brought unspeakable suffering and destruction to Gaza. But diplomacy has finally opened the door to peace.

"The UAE strongly welcomes the outcomes of the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit, the ceasefire agreement, and the release and return of hostages and detainees, whether alive or deceased, to their families," Abu Shahab said.

He praised President Trump's leadership and thanked the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey for their efforts in reaching this historic agreement. The ambassador called it strong proof of what's possible when the international community unites to break the cycle of violence.

But here's the thing - the international community must keep pressing both Israel and Hamas to honor their commitments under the agreement. Abu Shahab stressed that Security Council approval of this peace plan is crucial, and everyone shares responsibility for ending this war and achieving a fair, lasting settlement.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza was catastrophic by all measures. Now, with the ceasefire in effect, aid is flowing into the strip at increasing rates. Abu Shahab said there's an urgent need to scale up humanitarian assistance to reach everyone who needs it.

The UAE is sending two ships with emergency supplies next week. One ship is working with World Central Kitchen, which has become a lifeline for Gaza residents. The other carries additional urgent supplies for Palestinian civilians, especially women and children.

"Humanitarian aid entry and distribution must not be obstructed, as confirmed by yesterday's advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice," Abu Shahab said. He urged both Israel and Hamas to stick to their obligations under international law.

The situation in the West Bank is deteriorating rapidly while Gaza grabs headlines. Extremist Israeli settlers continue terrorizing Palestinian communities at unprecedented levels. Illegal settlement expansion continues openly, violating international law.

Some Israeli ministers are still calling for annexing Palestinian territories. The UAE strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset's preliminary approval of two bills that would impose Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and legalize settlement control.

This move represents a serious escalation that undermines efforts to achieve a two-state solution. Abu Shahab emphasized that the current ceasefire gives everyone a historic opportunity to move beyond just managing this decades-old conflict and finally work toward resolving it.

The ambassador ended his Security Council address by saying it's everyone's duty to turn the momentum from this peace plan into a political settlement. Both Palestinians and Israelis desperately need the peace, stability, and security this could bring.