UAE FM calls for Gaza ceasefire in rare talk with Israeli counterpart

UAE Urges Gaza Ceasefire in Rare Meeting with Israeli Minister

Abu Dhabi [UAE], April 7: In a rare diplomatic encounter, the United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Israeli Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and discuss the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the region, according to an official statement from the UAE Foreign Ministry.

This is one of the rare high-level meetings between the two countries since the Gaza war began in October 2023, following deadly attacks by Hamas on Israel. Although the Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States, officially restored relations between the UAE and Israel in 2020, the war has severely hampered diplomatic progress.

Sheikh Abdullah underlined the urgent need for a ceasefire and the release of hostages during the talks in Abu Dhabi. He also stressed the importance of seeking a long-term political solution based on a two-state framework to establish lasting peace in the region.

The Israeli government has not yet released an official statement regarding the discussions. However, Minister Gideon Saar later commented on the meeting via X (formerly Twitter), describing it as his second meeting with Sheikh Abdullah. He noted that they addressed a broad range of regional issues and ways to enhance bilateral ties. Although Saar acknowledged the Middle East’s formidable obstacles, he voiced optimism about the possibility of cooperation and stability in the region.

As global concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza grows, this high-level interaction shows that the UAE is still making an attempt diplomatically to mediate the dispute and advance a road toward peace.