Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, has discussed the ongoing developments in the war zone over telephone calls with top diplomats.
The UAE Minister has called Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation; Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah, Foreign Minister of Kuwait; Mr. Eli Cohen, Foreign Minister of Israel; and Mr. Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition in Israel.
They have discussed the de-escalation efforts and highlighted the significance of protecting civilians from the consequences of the current crisis.
Sheikh Abdullah Al Nahyan had two telephone calls with Mr. Antonio Tajani, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Mr. José Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain.
The discussions focused on finding ways to stop the rising tensions between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also called Mr. Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, to discuss the ongoing situation.
In a different statement, the UAE Foreign Ministry has remarked that the attack on Israeli towns and villages near the Gaza Strip by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas is a “serious and grave escalation.”
The Ministry has expressed its concern over the reports that Israeli civilians have been abducted as hostages from their homes. The Ministry also called on both parties to avoid raising violence, which affects civilian lives and facilities.
The UAE underscored that the international community needs to work together to prevent the violence, risking wider instability and spillover, including the involvement of other groups.
The current war scenario has worsened after a statement by Hamas. The group has reportedly threatened to kill an Israeli hostage every time Israel bombs a Palestinian home without warning.