Today's Edition
ABDULLAH ABU ZEIF (CAIRO) - The UAE continues its strong and tireless efforts at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and beyond to mobilise international action to stop the escalation in Gaza, protect all civilians, provide humanitarian support, and find a way to achieve comprehensive peace, as the protection of the Palestinian people is one of the country’s top priorities.
Since the outbreak of the crisis in the Gaza Strip on October 7, the UAE has held dozens of important meetings with global leaders, ministers, and UN officials as a part of its active diplomatic and humanitarian efforts. The support of the Palestinian cause has been a constant part of the UAE’s foreign policy, which was established by the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Former Egyptian Foreign Minister, Ambassador Mohamed El Orabi, said that the UAE plays an honourable role on behalf of all Arab countries through its representation in the Security Council, where it makes strong efforts to ensure the protection of civilians in Gaza and restore peace.
The former Egyptian Foreign Minister told Aletihad that the UAE plays a vital regional and international role and is the best representative of the Arab viewpoint both inside and outside the Security Council, thanks to its diplomatic efforts to ensure the protection of civilians, provide humanitarian support, and find a horizon for peace. In all Security Council sessions related to the Middle East and the Palestinian cause held since the beginning of the crisis, the UAE emphasised the most urgent humanitarian requirements.
It has always prioritised the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, hostage release, unobstructed access to humanitarian aid, fuel delivery to hospitals and water desalination stations, and provision of water, in addition to requesting compliance with international humanitarian law and holding each party responsible for its role in the current situation, including the Security Council itself.
The Security Council held a session last Wednesday to vote on two draft resolutions regarding the war in Gaza, where the United States presented the first resolution, while Russia presented the second.
The Security Council failed to adopt either of the resolutions due to a lack of required votes or the use of the veto. In line with the Arab position, the UAE voted against the American resolution and in favour of the Russian resolution, which calls for an immediate ceasefire for humanitarian purposes.
The UAE’s vote reflects the independence of the Emirati position, free from any pressure, in addition to its balanced policy based on clear principles that it does not deviate from.
In the context of the war in Gaza, protecting the Palestinian people is one of the country’s top priorities. The UAE rejected the US resolution because it did not address the most important concerns and demands of the Arabs regarding the urgent need to stop the war and address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Moreover, it gives Israel a legal basis to conduct a ground operation to invade Gaza under the guise of counter-terrorism. Other concerns are that the resolution does not condemn the random attacks carried out by Israel, nor does it address the immense humanitarian suffering faced by civilians in the Gaza Strip, who are forced to be displaced due to Israeli bombing and evacuation orders.
Additionally, the resolution does not address the Israeli collective punishment policy aimed at civilians in the Gaza Strip, where half of its population is children. This includes cutting off fuel, electricity, and water, and not allowing the entry of humanitarian aid, which is a lifeline for the people in that region.
The resolution also does not adequately address the current escalation risks, which can have serious repercussions on both the humanitarian situation and regional security.
This is the first Security Council resolution that the UAE has voted against since its membership began in January 2022.
As such, the UAE’s vote on this resolution is historic and can be described as an “Arab veto” due to its weight and embodiment of the Arab position towards the war in Gaza. The Security Council did not adopt the US draft resolution due to the use of the veto by two permanent members.
Ten countries voted in favour of the resolution: France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Albania, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Malta, and Switzerland. Three countries voted against the resolution: China, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates. Two countries abstained from voting: Mozambique and Brazil.
