UAE, Saudi Arabia, Gulf states increase aid to Gaza

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other countries in the Gulf are increasing aid to Gaza. This is important because many civilians in Gaza have left Gaza City and its environs to head to the southern part of the Gaza Strip for safety. Israel has encouraged the civilians to leave the north since mid-October after Hamas launched an attack on Israel, massacring 1,200 people. According to Arab News the first convoy from Saudi Arabia arrived in Gaza on Sunday. “The first aid convoys sent by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center to Gaza crossed the Rafah border crossing into the enclave on Sunday,” the Saudi Press Agency reported. The humanitarian support from Riyadh includes supplies for shelters as well as other aid. It was begun under the direction of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman earlier this month, reports say. “Meanwhile, a fourth Saudi relief plane carrying aid from the Kingdom to Gaza arrived at El-Arish International Airport in Egypt on Saturday,” Arab News said.This comes after Saudi Arabia hosted an important Arab League meeting with Islamic countries to discuss Gaza. Iran and Syria’s presidents both participated. Iran wants a more extreme hard line against the US and Israel and has mobilised proxies in the region to destabilise the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is playing an important role in stabilisation and in seeking compromise. “The initiative is in line with Saudi Arabia’s longstanding commitment to supporting the Palestinian people during times of crisis,” Arab News noted.