Unacceptable to ignore ICJ ruling on Gaza, says UAE at UNGA

In a speech at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, UAE Minister of State Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan called on international actors to respect the rulings of International Court of Justice's (ICJ), including decisions on Gaza.

“It is unacceptable to ignore the decisions and advisory opinions issued by the highest judicial body of the United Nations — the International Court of Justice. This includes the provisional measures issued by the Court regarding the war on Gaza,” he said on Tuesday.

'Even wars have rules'

Sheikh Shakhboot emphasized the need for international unity around fundamental principles, including the protection of civilians and the upholding of human rights without double standards.

“Even wars have rules. Parties must respect international law, including international humanitarian law,” he said.

In his address, Sheikh Shakhboot renewed the UAE's call for Iran to end its occupation of three UAE islands — Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa. He emphasized a diplomatic resolution, stating, “We cannot fight fire with fire.”

“We will continue to urge Iran to respond to our repeated calls to resolve this issue either through direct negotiations or by resorting to the International Court of Justice,” he added.

Calls for ceasefire

Speaking about the war in Gaza, the minister said, “An immediate and lasting ceasefire must be reached, rapid, full, and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid must be allowed, and hostages and detainees must be released. The relevant Security Council resolutions must also be implemented."

The UAE also reiterated its call for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the two-state solution, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

“We must consider the establishment of a temporary international mission in the Gaza Strip—upon an official request from the Palestinian government—to address the humanitarian crisis, re-establish security and law, and reunite Gaza and the West Bank under a reformed Palestinian Authority,” Sheikh Shakhboot said.

He affirmed that the State of Palestine, which recently secured its seat at the UN General Assembly, deserves recognition as a “fully-fledged state under occupation.”

Humanitarian aid

The UAE emphasized its commitment to aiding those besieged in Gaza. “To this end, we have sent urgent aid by land, air, and sea, and provided treatment to sick and injured Palestinians through the field hospital we established in Rafah and the floating hospital in Al-Arish,” he said. “The UAE also continues to help in evacuating the wounded and sick and their families from Gaza, most of whom are children and cancer patients, to receive necessary treatment in UAE hospitals.”

The UAE urged the international community to “act wisely in response to the rapid developments” in the region. “What we have warned about is now unfolding beyond our control. We regret to see the war spread to Lebanon, at a time when we were hoping for a deal to end the war on Gaza,” he noted.

The UAE has allocated $100 million in aid to Lebanon and contributed another $100 million to support UN humanitarian efforts in Sudan and its neighboring countries. It has also established two field hospitals in Chad.

The UAE also highlighted the importance of addressing climate change and emphasized the need to explore and harness opportunities presented by advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, to find innovative solutions for various challenges.