UAE President and his European Council counterpart hold high-profile call: Details inside

HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, President of the UAE, and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, held a phone call on Tuesday to discuss different aspects of cooperation and collaboration, as per official media reports.

The leaders discussed methods to enhance cooperation to serve the common interests of both sides, building on the strong ties that unite the UAE and the EU and its member states and their mutual commitment to further developing these ties.

During the discussions, the UAE President and his European Council counterpart focused on the latest developments in the Middle East as the brutal Israel-Hamas fighting rages on since October 7 last year. The crisis has pushed a major portion of the region into chaos.

Urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza

The Gaza crisis erupted in October as Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israeli cities, killing some 1,200 people and taking many others hostages. Israel’s retaliatory strikes, on the other hand, have already reportedly claimed over 35,500 lives.

The leaders discussed the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, emphasising on the call the importance of de-escalation and concerted international efforts to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peace to ensure the region’s security and stability.

Humanitarian assistance received a notable focus during the conversation. His Highness reiterated the UAE’s commitment to working with the EU and other international parties to enhance the response to the precarious situation in the Gaza Strip.

Need to intensify humanitarian efforts in Gaza

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed highlighted the need to ensure delivery of sufficient and sustainable aid to the residents of the enclave. He also noted that preserving civilian lives was necessary, as was intensifying efforts to prevent the conflict expanding further in the region.

For his part, Charles Michel appreciated the Gulf state’s humanitarian role in providing relief supplies through various means to Gaza. He stressed the 27-member bloc’s commitment to continuing its cooperation with the UAE to ensure improved humanitarian response.

The UN has raised serious concerns over humanitarian operations in Gaza being on the verge of collapse and that if food does not enter the territory soon in large quantities, “famine-like conditions will spread”. Stay tuned for more updates on the fighting.