
UAE's largest aid ship sets sail for Gaza with field hospital on board
The vessel, called Khalifa, is heading to Al Arish Port in Egypt and is loaded with 4,372 tonnes of food, 1,433 tonnes of shelter materials, 860 tonnes of medical supplies and 501 tonnes of health supplies, state news agency Wam reported.
It is the largest aid vessel ever dispatched by the Emirates, and comes as part of Operation Gallant Knight 3. It brings the total volume of aid sent by the UAE to Gaza to 77,266 tonnes.
The ship is also carrying a fully equipped field hospital that can accommodate 400 patients and 16 ambulances, Hmoud Al Efari, the UAE Aid mission's co-ordinator, told The National.
'The ship will arrive in the Egyptian city of Al Arish in the next weeks. It has a field hospital as a gift from the UAE to the medical sector in Gaza,' he said.
The vessel is carrying 20 tankers to ensure clean drinking water access for Gazans.
'The cargo will be stored in the UAE's warehouses in Al Arish and later loaded to lorries to cross the border to the strip,' Mr Al Efari added.
An uncertain future
The aid shipment comes with ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas at a crossroads.
Hamas is considering giving mediators until the end of the week to reach a deal or it will withdraw from the current talks in Doha, The National reported on Sunday.
The latest round of talks mediated by the US, Qatar and Egypt began on July 6. Significant progress has since been made on some issues but Israel and Hamas remain at odds over several key questions.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Yemen Online
10 hours ago
- Yemen Online
UAE launches water pipeline project to supply Gaza
The United Arab Emirates has initiated the construction of a critical water pipeline linking an Egyptian desalination plant to the coastal area of Al-Mawasi in southern Gaza. The project, approved by Israel's defense establishment and carried out with logistical coordination across borders, marks a significant humanitarian effort to alleviate the water crisis affecting nearly 600,000 Palestinians in the war-torn enclave. The pipeline, which will operate independently of existing Israeli water infrastructure, is designed to deliver potable water directly from Egypt into Gaza. It is being developed under the supervision of the Israeli military's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and was greenlit by the Israeli political echelon as a non-political, humanitarian measure. On Sunday, the first batch of construction materials, delivered by Emirati representatives, crossed the Kerem Shalom border crossing following stringent security inspections by Israel's Border Authority and Ministry of Defense. Construction is expected to begin in the coming days and will span several weeks. "This is a purely humanitarian measure, taken within the framework of cabinet decisions," said Israeli officials, emphasizing that the project does not signal a move toward rebuilding Gaza or any shift in political posture. "The connection of the pipeline does not constitute a step towards the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip," they added, aiming to quash speculation of normalization or broader reconciliation. The move comes amid a temporary humanitarian truce announced by Israel over the weekend. In parallel, Israeli authorities authorized workers from the Israel Electric Corporation to reconnect a key power line from the Ashkelon power station to Deir al-Balah. This line supports the Egyptian desalination plant already contributing to Gaza's water supply.


Yemen Online
13 hours ago
- Yemen Online
Abdullah bin Zayed: humanitarian situation in Gaza Strip reaches critical stage
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, underscored that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has reached a critical and unprecedented stage, emphasising the UAE's continued leading role in international efforts to deliver urgent relief aid to the Palestinian people. The Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported that in a post on the social media platform "X", HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed said the UAE will continue delivering relief support by land, air, and sea to those most in need, noting the immediate resumption of airdrop operations for aid. HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed underlined the UAE's commitment to alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people and providing support. The UAE continues to implement ongoing humanitarian initiatives, including sending urgent relief and medical aid to Gaza. Since the start of the crisis, it has established air and sea bridges and carried out the "Birds of Goodness" operation, which involved dozens of airdrops of aid over the affected areas.


Yemen Online
a day ago
- Yemen Online
UAE welcomes Emmanuel Macron's move to recognise Palestine as a state
Sheikh Abdullah welcomes Emmanuel Macron's move to recognise Palestine as a stateSheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, has welcomed the declaration by French President Emmanuel Macron that France will recognise Palestine as a state. Mr Macron announced on Thursday night that France would join Norway, Ireland and Spain as countries in Europe that have recognised Palestine. His comments came as anger mounted over the death toll in Gaza and the growing number of people starving in the enclave. Sheikh Abdullah said the UAE appreciated "this important decision" by Mr Macron, state news agency Wam reported on Friday evening. The move by the French President came at "a pivotal moment that requires the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and work collectively to activate the political process and end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict", added Sheikh Abdullah. The French stance will contribute to enhancing security and stability in the region, while supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, he said. Sheikh Abdullah reiterated the UAE's commitment to work with regional and international partners to find a just solution to the conflict in Gaza, ensuring a stable and prosperous future for the region in the process. Mr Macron said he would formalise the decision at the UN General Assembly in September. "The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and rescue the civilian population," Mr Macron wrote. "We must finally build the state of Palestine, ensure its viability and enable it, by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East." The decision to recognise Palestine as a state was also welcomed by Mohammed Ahmed Al Yammahi, President of the Arab Parliament. This move embodies a commitment to the values of justice, freedom and human dignity, and represents support for the Palestinian people's legitimate right to establish an independent and sovereign state, Wam reported Mr Al Yammahi as saying. The stance, added Mr Al Yammahi, strengthens diplomatic and parliamentary efforts aimed at achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East based on the two-state solution.