NICOSIA — The United Arab Emirates has reaffirmed its strong commitment to the Palestinian people, expressing solidarity and unwavering support for the residents of the Gaza Strip during these challenging times, according to Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, the UAE’s Minister of State for International Cooperation.
Al Hashimy spoke at the ministerial conference on the humanitarian maritime corridor for the Gaza Strip, held in Cyprus. The conference also featured Dr. Konstantinos Kompos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Sigrid Kaag, the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, and representatives from the United Nations Office for Project Services, the World Food Program, and the World Health Organization, along with numerous representatives from countries and international organizations.
Under the directives of the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Al Hashimy stressed that the UAE is dedicated to working with all relevant international entities to ensure the rapid and efficient delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s most vulnerable civilians.
“The activation of the maritime corridor is crucial,” the minister stated. “It will serve as an essential lifeline for the people of Gaza, speeding up the delivery of critical supplies to those in urgent need, especially in northern Gaza. It will provide a vital supplementary route in addition to the existing land crossings.”
Al Hashimy highlighted that the UAE set a historic milestone by dispatching the first ship with 200 tons of food aid to northern Gaza in partnership with the World Central Kitchen. The UAE is committed to enhancing these humanitarian efforts to ensure aid is delivered effectively and equitably.
She underscored that resolving the crisis demands a sustained ceasefire, a concrete plan to restart political dialogue, the realization of a two-state solution, and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.
Significantly, under the leadership of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE continues its humanitarian mission to assist the people of Gaza, launching initiatives like the “Gallant Knight 3” operation. This operation has delivered over 25,000 tons of humanitarian, food, and medical supplies via three ships, 216 aircraft, and nearly 1,000 trucks.
The humanitarian efforts have also included setting up a field hospital in Gaza, dispatching a hospital ship to the Egyptian city of Al-Arish, and providing comprehensive medical care and treatment in UAE hospitals for hundreds of patients.
This initiative, launched by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, aims to treat 1,000 injured children and 1,000 cancer patients from the Gaza Strip. Additionally, the UAE has supplied drinking water by establishing desalination plants capable of producing 1.2 million gallons per day.