The United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the ongoing war in Gaza during a meeting in New York on Friday.

The top UAE diplomat “stressed the urgent need to bring an end to the bloody conflict in Gaza, reach a permanent and sustainable ceasefire, prevent further loss of life, and put an end to the crisis and the tragic conditions faced by civilians in the Gaza Strip,” Emirates News Agency WAM reported on Saturday.

He stressed his country’s support for international efforts aimed at securing the release of all hostages and detainees, and the importance “to confront extremism and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”

In addition, Sheikh Abdullah emphasized the need “to ensure the unimpeded and sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid” to civilians in Gaza and” reiterated the UAE’s unwavering commitment to initiatives aimed at achieving a comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution...” the report said.

Since 2020, the UAE has normalized relations with Israel within the framework of the Abraham Accords. However, relations have become increasingly strained due to Israel’s military campaign against Gaza and an airstrike on Qatar on September 9.