After suspending funding for UNRWA, the UAE allocates $5 million for the reconstruction of Gaza

The UAE has allocated $5 million to support the efforts of Sigrid Kaag, the United Nations' chief coordinator for humanitarian affairs and the reconstruction of Gaza, at a time when donor countries to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) are suspending their funding following Israeli allegations regarding the agency's employees.

The United Arab Emirates announced, on Saturday, the allocation of $5 million to support the efforts of Sigrid Kaag, the United Nations Chief Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and Reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to a devastating Israeli war and a stifling siege since last October 7.

The official Emirates News Agency, WAM, reported that the announcement was made by Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in implementation of the directives of President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The UAE Foreign Minister stressed his country's keenness to support the humanitarian operations carried out by the United Nations in the Gaza Strip, and to support Sigrid Kaag in her efforts to alleviate the suffering of the people of Gaza and enhance the urgent humanitarian response to their needs, according to the same statement.

Yesterday, Friday, Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed met with UN official Kaag, who is on an indefinite visit to the Emirates.

The two parties discussed the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a result of the war, and ways to deal with its repercussions at an accelerated and coordinated pace in a way that contributes to alleviating the suffering of civilians and meeting their needs, according to the same source.

The Emirati minister stressed the necessity of a ceasefire and ensuring that humanitarian, relief and medical aid reaches the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip urgently, intensively, safely and without any obstacles.

This comes at a time when the main donors to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) suspended their funding after allegations emerged that about 12 of its tens of thousands of Palestinian employees are suspected of involvement in the October 7 attacks.

Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli army has been waging a devastating war on Gaza, which as of Saturday left “27,238 martyrs and 66,452 injured, most of them children and women,” according to the Palestinian authorities, and caused “massive destruction and an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe,” according to the Palestinian authorities. United nations.

The Iraqi presidency calls for an emergency meeting of the “three presidencies” to discuss the US strikes

The Iraqi presidency called for an emergency meeting of the three presidencies - the presidency, the representatives, and the prime minister - as well as the political blocs, to discuss the “American aggression,” considering that the American strikes on “civilian and military” sites in the country are a “flagrant violation” of sovereignty.

On Saturday, the Iraqi presidency called for an emergency meeting of the three presidencies - the presidency, parliament, and the prime minister - and the political blocs to discuss “the American aggression against the country.”

The Iraqi presidency renewed talk about the importance of holding an emergency meeting of the presidencies and political blocs to discuss the "aggression" against the city of "Al-Qaim" in Anbar Governorate and other Iraqi border areas west of the country from the United States.

In a statement published by the official Iraqi news agency "INA", it considered the American attack a "flagrant violation of Iraqi sovereignty."

She said, "The aggression comes despite the Iraqi government's announcement more than once of its rejection of such actions," stressing that "these attacks work to escalate tensions and threaten the security and stability of the region."

The presidency stated that Iraq has expressed a clear desire to organize the work of the international coalition through a round of talks, but yesterday's attacks will undermine the chances of success of the ongoing negotiations, as violence only breeds violence and aggravation, according to the statement.

The Presidency called on all parties to assume their national responsibilities towards the dangers and threats the country has been exposed to for months, which may lead to destabilizing security and stability and exposing the lives and safety of citizens to danger.

She renewed her talk about "the importance of holding an emergency meeting of the presidencies and political blocs to discuss these developments and repercussions and to take clear and unified positions that preserve Iraq's dignity, sovereignty, and the security of its citizens."

At dawn on Saturday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the launch of retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria "against 85 targets of the Quds Force, affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and militias loyal to it."

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry announced, through a statement on Saturday afternoon, the summoning of the Chargé d'Affaires of the United States Embassy in Baghdad, to hand him an official note of protest regarding "the attack that targeted military and civilian sites" in Iraq.

According to the Iraqi government, the "aggression" led to "16 martyrs, including civilians, in addition to 25 wounded," and it also caused losses and damage to residential buildings and citizens' property.

The government denied the existence of any prior coordination for the United States to launch strikes on Iraq, describing what the American side announced as a "false claim aimed at misleading international public opinion."

It is noteworthy that the American strikes came in response to the attack on an American base on the Jordanian-Syrian border a few days ago, which resulted in the death of 3 soldiers and the injury of 25 others, as Washington held the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” responsible for the attack, which was described as “the strongest” against the United States. United States since the start of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on October 7.

Since the start of the war on Gaza, and the humanitarian and health disasters it left behind, the region has witnessed escalating tensions and exchanged strikes between Israel and its two main allies, the United States and Britain, with armed groups supporting the resistance movements in Gaza, represented by the Lebanese “Hezbollah”, the Yemeni Houthi group, and the “resistance”. Islamic State in Iraq” supported by Iran.

Saudi Arabia provides 100 million riyals in support to the Initiatives Fund of the Islamic Military Alliance to Combat Terrorism

On Saturday, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman announced the provision of support to the Initiatives Fund of the Islamic Military Coalition to Combat Terrorism with 100 million riyals (about 26.67 million dollars).

This came during the second meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Islamic Military Coalition to Combat Terrorism, hosted by the capital, Riyadh, under the slogan “Fighting terrorism is a shared responsibility.”

Prince Khalid bin Salman said: “In continuation of the support provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to this coalition, I am pleased to announce the contribution of 100 million Saudi riyals to support the Initiatives Finance Fund, and to provide 46 training programs for candidates of member states to train in the areas of the coalition’s work, in addition to launching a special initiative called "The Islamic Military Coalition's program to combat terrorism for the Sahel countries."

A final statement was issued about the meeting, which stated: “The Defense Ministers of the countries of the Islamic Military Coalition to Combat Terrorism held their (second) meeting in the city of Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Saturday, February 3, 2024, and in response to a generous invitation from Prince Khaled.” Bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chairman of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Islamic Military Coalition to Combat Terrorism, express their appreciation for the keenness contained in His Highness’s speech to activate the coalition’s process in order to protect the security of member states, preserve their stability and secure the safety of their peoples.

The statement added: “The Member States express their support for the speech of the Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President of the Council, stressing the importance of a unified position for the Member States in condemning the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.”

He continued: "They affirm their countries' determination to enhance cooperation, coordinate and unify efforts to ward off the dangers of terrorism and stand against it. They stress the importance of joint collective action to confront all forms and images of terrorism and extremism. They express their satisfaction with the progress that has been achieved in the coalition's journey, stressing their keenness to continue efforts to fight terrorism and eliminate terrorism." It is through organized collective action and comprehensive planning in accordance with plans and initiatives that support the main areas of the alliance, represented in the intellectual field, the media field, the field of combating the financing of terrorism, and the military field.”

The statement continued: “The defense ministers of the member states were briefed on the coalition’s methodology and the initiatives it included, which were designed based on the needs of the member states through their representatives to the coalition in accordance with its governance, and the attendees were aware of the importance of working to activate these initiatives aimed at combating terrorism in its various fields. They agreed to Launching the Alliance Initiatives Fund to receive financial contributions from member states, supporting states, and international bodies and organizations.

The attendees praised the consensus of visions reached at this meeting, and the importance of concerted efforts to achieve the goals sought by the coalition to combat terrorism, through its members. And in the existing partnership with friendly, supportive countries and international organizations concerned with combating terrorism, based on respect for the principles of international legitimacy, and welcoming countries wishing to join the coalition in the future.

In conclusion, the “Defence Ministers expressed their deep thanks and appreciation to the countries that contributed to supporting the Initiatives Finance Fund,” and reiterated their thanks for the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia “in forming and supporting this coalition to continue its path according to what was planned, and for the Kingdom hosting the (second) meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers.” To the coalition countries.

They expressed their thanks and gratitude to the Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the efforts made to make this meeting a success, and the positive results achieved during it.