President Sheikh Mohamed discusses Gaza with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken


  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

President Sheikh Mohamed and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have held talks as the Israel-Gaza war rages on.

The senior American official arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday before heading to Al Shati Palace to discuss the crisis.

In a social media post, Mr Blinken said he met Sheikh Mohamed “to discuss efforts to prevent the conflict in the region from widening and address humanitarian needs in Gaza”.

“I underscored our continued commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state,” he said.

During the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed emphasised the need to work towards a ceasefire and ensure that humanitarian relief is delivered to the residents of Gaza while preventing their displacement, Wam reported.

The two previously held face-to-face talks on the war in October, during which they discussed the protection of civilian lives and stressed the urgent need to get medical and relief aid into the Gaza Strip.

The meeting also addressed the need to intensify regional and international diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation, violence and crises in the region.

Mr Blinken issued a warning in an attempt to calm tension.

“This is a moment of profound tension in the region,” he said in Qatar on Sunday evening.

“This is a conflict that could easily metastasise, causing even more insecurity and even more suffering.”

Qatar, which maintains ties with Hamas, has played a central mediation role in the conflict and helped to broker the release of more than 100 Israeli hostages.

Mr Blinken is due to travel to AlUla in Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He will then travel to Israel and the West Bank.

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

Joy%20Ride%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Adele%20Lim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAshley%20Park%2C%20Sherry%20Cola%2C%20Stephanie%20Hsu%2C%20Sabrina%20Wu%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Xpanceo

Started: 2018

Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov

Based: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality

Funding: $40 million

Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)

Updated: January 09, 2024, 6:38 AM`