United States: Ambassador Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN, has presented the Shield of Palestine to Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the UN.
The Shield was given to Ambassador Nusseibeh as a token of gratitude for her unceasing efforts during her time at the UN, especially when the UAE was a member of the UN Security Council.
Along with the Palestine Mission, the Arab Group, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the UAE made all diplomatic efforts possible to ensure that UN Security Council Resolutions 2712 and 2720—which address issues about the supply of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip—were adopted.
The resolution voted in December 2023 by the vast majority of member states of the UN General Assembly, which demanded an urgent humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, was also backed by the United Arab Emirates.
On October 11, 2023, the United Arab Emirates arranged for members of the Security Council to visit the Rafah border crossing, which connects Gaza and Egypt. During the journey, Council members gained a deeper appreciation of both the enormity of the humanitarian needs in the region and the challenges associated with providing relief to the Palestinians in Gaza.
Ambassador Nusseibeh emphasized the UAE’s steadfast and unwavering support for the Palestinian people, particularly in light of the catastrophic Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, as well as the strong historical ties between the UAE and the State of Palestine.
The Gaza Strip’s residents are still receiving relief and humanitarian aid from the UAE. The United Arab Emirates has contributed more than $45 million to the humanitarian response since the beginning of the Gaza War. By land, air, and sea, it has delivered close to 40,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid; 300 tonnes of that total were given in collaboration with the World Central Kitchen. Additionally, the UAE has set up two hospitals: a floating hospital anchored in Al-Arish Port and a field hospital in the southern Gaza Strip that has treated close to 14,000 cases.