UAE says it agreed with Israel to deliver urgent aid to 15,000 Gazans
Deal covers food and essential supplies
ISTANBUL
The United Arab Emirates announced late Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with Israel to deliver urgent humanitarian aid from the Gulf country to 15,000 civilians in the Gaza Strip.
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke by phone with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, to coordinate the delivery of urgent food assistance and essential supplies, according to the official Emirati news agency WAM.
“The aid will address the food needs of approximately 15,000 civilians in the Gaza Strip in the initial phase,” the agency said.
The aid package will include items to support the operation of bakeries and provide for children’s needs, with a stated commitment to continue the flow of such materials.
The Emirati minister emphasized the importance of “ensuring the urgent, sustainable, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian, relief and medical assistance to the brotherly Palestinians in the Strip.”
The two ministers also discussed efforts to restore a ceasefire and release hostages.
No official Israeli statement has been issued on the matter.
While Israel has announced, under US and European pressure, a limited plan to allow aid into Gaza, no shipments have entered since March 2, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.
Officials there say the territory needs a minimum of 44,000 truckloads of aid over this period, including 500 aid trucks and 50 fuel trucks per day, to meet basic humanitarian needs.
Gaza remains in a state of famine, with the siege contributing to hundreds of deaths from hunger and medical shortages as aid trucks remain stalled at border crossings.
The Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing nearly 53,600 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
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