People remove the corpse of a person killed in an Israeli strike on a school in Gaza City on Saturday. AFP

The United Arab Emirates joins the call issued by Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi of Egypt, and President Joe Biden of the United States to conclude the ceasefire and hostages and detainees release deal. 

The UAE urges the parties to respond to the call to resume urgent discussions on August 15, 2024.

As outlined by the three leaders, the agreement currently on the table would end the suffering of the people of Gaza and the hostages and their families.

The UAE hopes that the parties will not delay this any further.

Finally, the UAE reiterates its deep appreciation and complete support for the tireless mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to reach an agreement to end the misery in Gaza.

France and Germany also expressed their support for a call by the United States, Egypt and Qatar for the new round of talks.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the war in Gaza must end amid fears of it morphing into a regional conflict following the assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in Tehran and in Beirut.

“The war in Gaza must stop,” Macron said in a post in English and French on X. He added: “It’s crucial for the people of Gaza, for the hostages, and for the stability of the region, which is at stake today.”

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza on Saturday. Reuters

Meanwhile, Israel has agreed to resume Gaza ceasefire talks next week at the request of international mediators, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said, after intensive diplomatic efforts aimed at averting a region-wide conflagration.

Separately, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said on Friday, it would support all efforts to prevent war escalating in the Middle East.

“Pakistan will support all efforts to prevent a war in the Middle East,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch at a media briefing. She did not comment on whether Pakistan had been in contact with Washington over the issue.

Meanwhile, the UAE’s “Operation Chivalrous Knight 3” has carried out a number of humanitarian initiatives across the Gaza Strip, to provide urgent aid to Palestinian facilities affected by the harsh conditions and the shortage of living necessities, and alleviate their suffering.

Benefitting over 5.3 million people, the operation’s team distributed basic food supplies in several areas of the Strip, to support families suffering from the difficult financial situation, with meals distributed across camps and shelters, which house displaced Palestinian families.

The Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 team also delivered bread supplies across shelters, benefitting over 1.2 million people, to bridge the gap caused by the lack of materials to produce bread and the inability of bakeries to meet the population’s demand levels.

“Operation Chivalrous Knight 3” seeks to provide relief aid to all affected people in the Gaza Strip, driven by the UAE’s commitment to boost its humanitarian drive to support and provide aid to the Palestinian people.

Israeli troops launched a new assault on Friday into the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, targeting Hamas fighters who the military claims still operate there despite repeated offensives.

Israeli evacuation orders triggered yet another exodus of Palestinians from the heavily destroyed eastern districts of Khan Younis, where many had just returned less than two weeks ago - after the Israeli military’s last incursion into the city in July.

Thousands fled carrying essentials like small gas cylinders, mattresses, tents, backpacks and blankets.

Officials from Israel and the United States have said they believe Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ newly named top leader, could be hiding in tunnels under Khan Younis.

The military said on Friday its warplanes struck 30 Hamas targets in the city, including fighters and weapons storage sites.

Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 39,600 Palestinians and wounded more than 91,700 others. More than 1.9 million of Gaza’s pre-war population of 2.3 million have been driven from their homes, fleeing repeatedly across the territory to escape offensives.

Most are now crowded into ramshackle tent camps in an area about 50 square kilometres on the Gaza coast.

WAM / Agencies