The UAE has condemned comments by Israeli Minister of Heritage Amihai Eliyahu about dropping a nuclear bomb on the Gaza Strip.

Mr Eliyahu made the remarks on Sunday as he spoke about the options available to Israel.

He was later suspended from cabinet meetings, but his comments caused international outrage, with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issuing its condemnation through state news agency Wam.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms the UAE’s categorical rejection of the threat of using nuclear weapons,” it said.

“The UAE stresses that the immediate priority is to preserve the lives of civilians and provide them with necessary humanitarian assistance.”

The ministry also called for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of life.

It emphasised the importance of protecting civilians according to international law, including international treaties, and the need to ensure they are not targets during conflict.

“The UAE calls on the international community to intensify efforts to avoid further fuelling the situation in the occupied Palestinian Territory, and to advance all efforts to achieve a comprehensive and just peace, while preventing the region from being drawn into new levels of violence, tension and instability,” the ministry said.