UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Tuesday evening to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments, with a focus on the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, according to state news agency WAM.

During the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah emphasized the urgent need for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, stressing the importance of protecting civilian lives and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

The UAE foreign minister reaffirmed his country’s support for mediation efforts led by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States to broker a prisoner exchange and establish a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.

Sheikh Abdullah also called for advancing a political process aimed at achieving comprehensive peace based on a two-state solution. He reiterated the UAE’s solidarity with Palestinians, their right to self-determination, and the country’s ongoing humanitarian initiatives to support them.

The meeting also addressed the importance of international efforts to combat extremism, hatred, and racism, while promoting tolerance and coexistence, WAM reported.

Key UAE officials, including Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs; Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs; and Mohamed Mahmoud Al Khaja, UAE Ambassador to Israel, attended the meeting.