The UAE said it was “heartbreaking” to watch the suffering of the Palestinian people and stressed that a surge in relief efforts was vital as a long-awaited ceasefire comes into effect on Sunday.

Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, reaffirmed the UAE’s support for the Palestinian people and compassion for those dealing with “unimaginable loss”.

“‘For 466 days, we’ve waited for a ceasefire with bated breath,” Ms Al Hashimy said. "And every day since the beginning of the war, we scoured land, sea and air to try and bring some relief, working constantly and relentlessly with partners to get as much relief in as possible."

Under the UAE’s largest initiative for Gaza, winter clothing was distributed to 12,500 as part of Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, reaching displaced people now living in shelters and temporary tents.

“It’s been heartbreaking to watch their pain unfold in front of our eyes,” Ms Al Hashimy said. “The thousands of tonnes that we have shared don’t fully reflect the immense love and compassion we have for those struggling [with] unimaginable loss. As we prepare to surge our support, we reaffirm that we have always, always, stood with the Palestinian people.”

Relief plans

The relief drive covered Palestinians in southern Gaza near Al Aqsa University in Khan Younis this weekend.

Hamad Al Neyadi, the head of the UAE Relief Mission, said the country would continue to provide medicine, food and tents for the residents of Gaza. Repair of water pipes and sewerage networks will be part of the next phase of the aid programme that will also support bakeries and soup kitchens to ensure displaced people and those returning to their homes are supplied with food, state news agency Wam said on Sunday.

The total number of aid convoys to have entered the Gaza Strip under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 is 155, with more than 309 tonnes of aid carried by 25 lorries this week alone.

Hostage release

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Sunday at 11.15 local time, after the Palestinian group released the names of the three Israeli hostages to be freed on the first day of the truce.

The ceasefire in Gaza was supposed to take place about three hours earlier but was delayed after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had not received the list of names from Hamas.

Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher are the three names on the initial list of 33 hostages to be released in the first phase of ceasefire. Israel confirmed it received the list and said the military is reviewing the names.

Under the ceasefire, Israel has agreed to release 737 Palestinian detainees prisoners and in return Hamas will release three female hostages on the first day of the ceasefire, four on the seventh day and then 26 over a five-week period.

The Palestinians are among 2,000 detainees Israel has agreed to release in exchange for Hamas freeing 33 of the remaining 98 Israelis hostages.

Nearly 47,000 people have been killed, at least 110,450 injured and 11,000 have gone missing in the past 15 months, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Most of the population has been displaced, with widespread homelessness across the territory.

Gaza has been devastated by sustained Israeli strikes after Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and took about 250 hostages across to Gaza on October 7, 2023.