UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with the leader of the opposition in Israel, Yair Lapid, and discussed with him developments in the region, especially the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, according to what the official UAE media reported today (Thursday).

The Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported today, "Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed met with Lapid, and during the meeting they discussed the latest developments in the region, especially the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip."

During the meeting, the Emirati minister stressed "the importance of working to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and avoiding the expansion of conflict in the region as a result of this war."

He considered, "The priority is to end tension and violence, protect the lives of civilians, and make all efforts to facilitate the flow of urgent humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip through safe and unhindered corridors in an intensive and sustainable manner."

During the meeting, the UAE Foreign Minister also stressed "the urgent importance of pushing towards finding a serious political horizon to resume negotiations to achieve comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, which will contribute to consolidating the foundations of stability, achieving sustainable security in the region, and ending the escalating violence it is witnessing."

In turn, Lapid said in a post on the (X) platform regarding the meeting that he informed the UAE Foreign Minister that “the most urgent matter is to return the kidnapped people to their homes,” referring to the Israeli detainees in the Gaza Strip.

Lapid continued in a second post, “Israel has an interest in establishing political and economic cooperation with the United Arab Emirates and moderate Arab countries that can provide solutions to global problems and deal with regional threats of all kinds.”

The UAE signed a peace agreement with Israel under American sponsorship on September 15, 2020, becoming the third Arab country to officially establish public relations with Israel after Egypt and Jordan. Since then, the two countries have signed several agreements in various fields, and Israeli officials have visited the UAE.