ANKARA: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and the top diplomat of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) spoke over the phone and discussed the recent situation in the Gaza Strip, Turkish media reported on Saturday.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Fidan discussed the draft resolution approved by the UNSC regarding the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip and humanitarian aid.
Underscoring the significance of making maximum efforts to conduct humanitarian aid efforts in the most effective way, the Turkish Foreign Minister said the ultimate target is to ensure the establishment of a Palestinian state and a permanent peace in the region.
Türkiye, UAE Discuss Situation in Gaza
Foreign ministers of Türkiye, UAE discuss situation in Gaza including draft resolution adopted by UN Security Council and humanitarian aid to blockaded enclave https://t.co/VZRbdOpaqs pic.twitter.com/OhNhKkMbWA
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) December 23, 2023
The UNSC on Friday passed a toned-down bid to boost humanitarian help to Gaza and called for urgent measures “to create the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities” following a week of vote delays and intense talks to avoid a veto by Washington.
Amid international outrage over increasing Gaza death toll in last 11 weeks of war between Hamas and Israel and a deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the United States abstained to permit the 15-member council to adopt a resolution drafted by the UAE. The remaining UNSC members voted for the resolution on Gaza except for Russia which also abstained.
READ ALSO: UNSC Acts to Boost Gaza Aid After US Abstains
Since October 7 Israel has pounded Gaza, killing more than 20,258 Palestinians, mostly children and women, and injuring around 53,688 others, health authorities in the Gaza Strip said.
UN chief Antonio Guterres addressed the escalating conflict, stating that four out of the five hungriest people globally are in Gaza. Guterres emphasized the UN’s commitment to responding to the intensifying conflict and the growing humanitarian crisis in the region.