UAE welcomes ceasefire agreement, mourns loss of lives in Palestine, Israel

UAE had earlier stressed that it has been gravely concerned by the escalating violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The UAE has welcomed the news of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The country has also expressed hope that the agreement proves to be durable, lasting, and might contribute to the resumption of a credible wider peace process while restoring calm and building confidence between the parties at the same time.

UAE had earlier stressed that it has been gravely concerned by the escalating violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

It thanked Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, for his appeal for an immediate ceasefire and his call on all parties to initiate a political dialogue and to exercise maximum restraint.

Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN, spoke before the UN General Assembly at its debate on the situation in the Middle East and the question of Palestine convened at the request of the Group of Arab Member States to the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement. She expressed the UAE’s condolences to the families of all those killed and stated that the events of the past two weeks have been a somber reminder of the urgent need for a peaceful dialogue aimed at a long-term solution to end the conflict.

"The ongoing violence of the past two weeks and the growing number of civilian casualties indicate that we must redouble international efforts to find a just, comprehensive, and lasting peaceful solution to the Palestinian issue consistent with relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions", she said.

Ambassador Nusseibeh expressed alarm at the actions against the Palestinian people since early May in violation of international law, including at the Al Aqsa Mosque, and the forced displacement of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, which has led to civilian casualties, including women and children. She stressed that Israel must comply with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law, and with all relevant UN resolutions.

She emphasised that Israel must protect Palestinian civilians, immediately cease building settlements and demolishing Palestinian property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and halt the forcible displacement of Palestinians.