Following the deaths of seven aid workers in Gaza at the hands of Israeli forces, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly terminated its diplomatic engagement with Israel.
As per i24News, Emirati representatives have described the halt in relations with Israel as marking the “darkest day” in the history of Tel Aviv-Abu Dhabi ties.
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The global response to the killings has been strong, with Spain criticizing Israel’s explanation for the incident as both insufficient and unacceptable.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the aid workers’ deaths were accidental. Critics, however, contend that Israel has failed to adequately safeguard civilians and aid personnel amid its military operations in Gaza.
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The number of casualties from Israel’s current actions in Gaza has exceeded 33,000, leading to widespread international criticism.
Despite the global condemnation and calls for an end to the conflict that began on October 7, Israel’s campaign continues unabated.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with outbreaks of disease and severe famine adding to the humanitarian crisis.
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The UAE, which normalized relations with Israel in September 2020 through the Abraham Accord, facilitated by the US, has seen substantial interaction with Israel since then. Al Jazeera’s report from the previous year highlighted significant benefits from the accord for the UAE, including visits from 450,000 Israelis and active business engagements by Israeli firms within the Gulf country.
