The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the Hamas attacks on Israel before calling on the warring parties to end the violence and protect civilians. It is the first Arab state to adopt an official anti-Hamas stance.
The Ministry sees in the operations launched by this Palestinian group against Israeli localities a “serious and grave escalation.” It expressed “dismay” at reports whereby Israeli civilians had been taken hostage by Palestinian forces, urging respect for international humanitarian law.
The Emirati Ministry also condemned “the violent attempts at derailing diplomatic efforts to achieve peace, cooperation and coexistence in the region,” and the “nihilistic destruction” of this region.
In 2020, the United Arab Emirates re-established official diplomatic relations with Israel, with which it is multiplying military, technological and economic cooperation agreements.
In the statements they have issued to comment on the hostilities in Gaza, Morocco, Sudan and Bahrain, which have normalized relations with Tel Aviv in recent years, have settled for condemning the violence and calling for calm without supporting any side.
Sami Erchoff
