Valiant Knight 3: Gaza's Inspiring 2-Year Humanitarian Effort

The UAE's "Operation Gallant Knight 3" marked its second anniversary with a community gathering in central Gaza, showcasing humanitarian aid worth 9.43 billion dirhams ($2.57 billion) that has become a lifeline for Palestinians during more than two years of devastating conflict.

The operation launched on November 5, 2023, under orders from UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Since then, it has delivered 100,000 tons of urgent aid - accounting for over 40% of all international humanitarian support reaching Gaza.

The numbers tell the story of a massive relief effort. The UAE conducted 712 air relief missions and 221 airdrops through "Operation Birds of Goodness." They sent more than 10,000 aid trucks and 21 ships carrying food and medicine into the territory.

But the operation goes beyond basic supplies. UAE hospitals have treated 2,961 injured people, cancer patients, and children from Gaza. The UAE field hospital in Rafah treated 53,375 people, while another 20,990 received care at the UAE floating hospital in Egypt's Al-Arish.

Daily operations show the scale of need. The UAE provides two million gallons of water daily for one million people. Twenty bakeries supply bread to 76,000 people each day, while 50 charitable kitchens serve meals to 286,000 people daily.

Palestinian leader Maher Mazhar praised the operation's efforts, noting that winter increases the needs of displaced families. He said Palestinians will always remember UAE support, both in providing aid and advocating for Palestinian rights in international forums.

The healthcare sector received critical support. Dr. Raed Hussein, director of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, explained that Gaza's health system was near collapse before UAE intervention. The UAE established field hospitals, provided medical equipment and supplies, and evacuated thousands of patients to receive proper care.

Water infrastructure became another focus area. Engineer Omar Shtat from Gaza's coastal municipalities water authority described how the UAE operates six water desalination plants and extended kilometers of freshwater pipelines to displaced populations. Dozens of water tanks deliver supplies directly to refugee camps.

Palestinian civil society leader Yusri Darwish called the operation "exceptional by all standards," saying the humanitarian catastrophe would have deepened without this intervention. He urged continued UAE support through recovery and reconstruction phases.

The gathering concluded with Dr. Mohammed Irbi, deputy head of the operation's support committee, announcing new projects planned for the coming phase. He acknowledged the difficulties faced by work teams during different relief stages but said the community response motivates continued humanitarian work in Gaza.

This aid effort represents one of the largest sustained humanitarian operations in recent years. As Gaza faces ongoing challenges, the UAE's commitment extends beyond immediate relief to longer-term recovery and reconstruction planning.