The United Arab Emirates participated in the high-level meeting of the "Global Coalition for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution," hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on October 30 and 31. The event saw the participation of 94 countries and international organizations.
Keynote speeches were delivered by Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The UAE delegation was led by Lana Nusseibah, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs. Nusseibah expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia's role in facilitating international efforts towards achieving the two-state solution, emphasizing the historical leadership of the Kingdom as crucial now more than ever.
The UAE reaffirmed its commitment to a future where Palestine and Israel coexist peacefully alongside their neighbors, rejecting any attempts to create facts on the ground that hinder this goal.
In light of the alarming number of casualties since the onset of the conflict, Nusseibah renewed calls for unconditional protection of civilians and relief workers. She highlighted the UAE's leadership in providing humanitarian support to the people of Gaza and urged for immediate and unrestricted humanitarian assistance.
Nusseibah warned of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, particularly in the north, where 400,000 individuals lack access to aid. Recent alerts from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification indicated that over 1.8 million people in the region are experiencing high levels of severe food insecurity.
Furthermore, she condemned laws targeting the essential work of UNRWA, stressing that UNRWA staff and facilities are protected under international law, including humanitarian law. During the meetings in Riyadh, Nusseibah emphasized the risks of escalating tensions and the implications of military escalation across the region.
The UAE reiterated its call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages and detainees. Nusseibah expressed deep concern regarding the ongoing developments in Lebanon and the serious escalation's impact on regional stability, reaffirming the UAE's steadfast position on Lebanon's unity, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as its support for the Lebanese people in facing current challenges.
Additionally, the UAE highlighted the dangers posed by incitement and hate speech on both sides of the conflict, stressing the devastating impact of such practices in the West Bank, where Palestinians face violence from settlers without accountability. The existing frameworks to address this challenge were referenced, notably UN Security Council Resolution 2686 (2023) regarding "Tolerance, Peace, and International Security," which recognized hate speech, extremism, and intolerance as factors fueling the conflict and outlined ways for countries and communities to work together to confront this threat.