UAE reiterates need for Gaza ceasefire

The UAE has underscored the need to intensify international joint efforts to end the humanitarian crisis of the Palestinian people and achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, in an extraordinary session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers (ICIM) held by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, Türkiye.

The session was held to discuss endeavours to confront “the Israeli occupying authority’s disinformation and hostilities against journalists and media outlets in the occupied Palestinian territory.” The ICIM is attended by information ministers and ministers responsible for communication in the OIC Member States.

The statement was delivered by the UAE delegation led by Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office, who also reiterated the need to prevent a spill-over of the conflict that threatens regional security and stability.

Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed underscored that since the beginning of the crisis, the UAE has strengthened all diplomatic and humanitarian efforts aimed at halting escalation, restoring peace, and preserving civilian lives with a primary focus on safeguarding civilians, preserving facilities, and securing humanitarian corridors for the delivery of urgent relief and medical aid.

He highlighted the UAE’s efforts, through its non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council (UNSC), that successfully led to the Security Council adopting Resolutions 2712 and 2720 (of 2023), which demanded that tangible steps be taken to increase the necessary humanitarian aid flow to Palestinians, and safeguard the lives of UN employees and humanitarian workers on the ground in the Strip.

Sheikh Abdulla reaffirmed the UAE’s strong condemnation of any forced displacement of Palestinians, and all practices that violate the resolutions of international legitimacy and international and humanitarian law. The UAE has been steadfast in its stance on calling for paving the path to achieving a just peace that guarantees security and stability for the region, to end all forms of extremism, tensions and violence, and to construct a viable political horizon to achieve a comprehensive and just peace based on the “two-state solution”.

Sheikh Abdulla stressed that the UAE, under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, spares no effort in delivering urgent humanitarian and relief aid to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip through the Gallant Knight 3 humanitarian operation.

Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed leads UAE delegation to extraordinary session of Islamic Conference of Information Ministers in Istanbul#WamNews https://t.co/fj3DYyOe05 pic.twitter.com/2Mg4kUP1vV

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) February 25, 2024