UAE refuses Israeli request to fund Gaza aid plan, saying it doesn’t address the crisis

UAE Rejects Israeli Request to Fund Gaza Aid Plan Over Humanitarian Concerns

The United Arab Emirates has declined an Israeli request to finance a new aid initiative for Gaza, citing that the proposed plan falls short of addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis, a senior official told The Times of Israel.

Under the direction of the recently formed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the project intends to resume aid distribution after a two-month hiatus. But according to a GHF letter, the scheme would initially only reach roughly 60% of Gaza’s population. The UN and other international organizations have criticized this narrow scope and expressed concerns about the possible politicization of aid, which has led to their refusal to take part.

Top Israeli officials, including Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer’s aide Moran Stav, recently traveled to Abu Dhabi in an attempt to gain financial support. During the meeting, UAE Minister for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy made it clear that the Emirates could not back the plan in its current form.

The UAE has not ruled out future assistance, though, if the project is changed to better meet Gaza’s pressing humanitarian needs. The lack of international support has caused the GHF plan’s implementation to be delayed, and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee’s press conference only served to promote it sparingly.