© Reuters. Israel’s President Isaac Herzog attends a gathering with the U.S. Secretary of State (not pictured), in Tel Aviv, Israel on November 30, 2023, following the announcement of an extension of the truce between Israel and Hamas simply earlier than it was as a consequence of expire.
By Alexander Cornwell
DUBAI (Reuters) – Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday requested United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to make use of his “political weight” to assist free the entire Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.
Herzog made the request throughout a gathering with Sheikh Mohamed in Dubai, in keeping with a press release issued by the Israeli president’s media workplace.
“The President appealed to his friend Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to employ his full political weight to promote and speed up the return home of the hostages,” it mentioned.
Herzog, whose function is basically ceremonial and which lacks govt powers, is within the Gulf state to attend the U.N. local weather summit, referred to as COP28, which runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.
It’s his first abroad journey because the Oct. 7 cross-border assault by Hamas gunmen which Israel has mentioned killed round 1,200 Israelis and foreigners took about 240 hostage into Gaza.
The UAE is a regional energy though fellow Gulf state Qatar, and Egypt, have been mediating between Israel and Hamas for the discharge of hostages, which has up to now led to 99 Israelis and foreigners being freed.
Israel has launched 210 Palestinian prisoners in change for Israeli hostages.
The Israeli assertion additionally mentioned Israel had cooperated with the UAE in order that the Gulf state might ship support into Gaza, construct a discipline hospital at Gaza’s Rafah border and assist with transferring injured youngsters from Gaza to obtain medical care within the UAE.
A UAE state information company report mentioned the 2 presidents mentioned relations between their international locations and problems with mutual curiosity.
Herzog was invited to attend the summit by Sheikh Mohamed earlier this 12 months. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was additionally invited to attend. Israel deliberate to ship a big delegation of about 1,000 folks, an official beforehand mentioned.
Nevertheless, the delegation would now be smaller, the official mentioned, citing that a few of those that have been to participate within the delegation had been known as up for reserve navy obligation.
The UAE is one among few Arab states that has official diplomatic ties with Israel. The Center East nations have constructed shut ties since official relations have been established in 2020 underneath the United States-brokered Abraham Accords.
The UAE has condemned Hamas, which it sees as a menace to Center East stability, for the Oct. 7 assault and known as for the hostages to be launched. Abu Dhabi has additionally condemned Israel’s bombardment and invasion of Gaza, which Palestinian well being officers say has killed over 15,000 folks.
Nevertheless, the UAE intends to keep up its relationship with Israel, which has yielded billions of {dollars} in commerce and shut safety cooperation, sources have mentioned.
