UAE and International Organizations Demand Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has called for an immediate ceasefire and the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza amidst escalating conflict. At a recent high-level meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, UAE's Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Lana Nusseibeh, emphasized the urgency for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, adherence to international law, and a renewed commitment to the two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
During the discussions, Nusseibeh highlighted the substantial aid provided by the UAE, noting that the country has supplied over 32,000 tons of food, medical supplies, and other essentials since the conflict's onset. She also mentioned the efforts to deliver medical treatment and drinking water to those affected. The UAE has sent its latest aid shipment via the sea corridor from Cyprus, totaling 1,100 tons delivered through this route. Nusseibeh stressed the need to expedite aid inspections and lift restrictions at border crossings for effective relief operations.
In tandem with UAE's appeals, several international humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, have echoed similar demands. These organizations stress the untenable conditions in Gaza, pointing to widespread bombardments and the dire state of healthcare facilities. With no healthcare facility fully operational and hundreds of thousands facing brutal circumstances, the urgency for immediate intervention is clear.
Doctors Without Borders highlighted the desperate situation in Rafah, where relentless aerial bombardment and violent fighting have rendered safe zones non-existent. The UNICEF underscored that Gaza’s population lacks sufficient aid, fuel, and safe havens due to logistical and hostilities-related complications. Kate Forbes, President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, also called for a political solution to facilitate a ceasefire, enabling humanitarian organizations to provide essential aid.
- Her Excellency Lana Nusseibeh also conducted bilateral meetings with key international figures, including Tobias Lindner, Germany’s Minister of State at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Robert Oliphant, Canada’s Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. Discussions revolved around strengthening coordination between the EU and Arab partners to ensure lasting peace and security in the region.
- Forbes shared harrowing observations from her February visit to Rafah, where conditions were already dire months before the current escalation. She emphasized the acute shortages in housing, water, sanitation, and food, stressing that a ceasefire is imperative for relief efforts to reach the affected populace effectively.
