Compassion for Gaza”: Tweeters applaud the UAE’s “Nation of Humanity”
Tweeters described the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a ‘Nation of Humanity’ when commenting on its continuous efforts to support Palestinians in general and the people of Gaza in particular.
On the social media platform Twitter, users changed the slogan of the campaign launched by the UAE to aid Palestinians affected by the conflict in Gaza, known as ‘Compassion for Gaza,‘ into a solidarity hashtag. It quickly became a top trending topic in the UAE.
Tweeters from the UAE and several other Arab countries engaged with the hashtag, praising the country’s political and humanitarian efforts to support the Palestinian cause through both words and actions, away from hollow slogans, campaigns of slander, and falsehoods trying to obscure its positions.
Since last Saturday, the Gaza Strip has been subjected to continuous and intense Israeli shelling following a sudden and unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israeli settlements and cities in the Gaza border area. This attack resulted in the death of around 1,300 Israelis, with 3,200 injured and 150 captured.
Israeli shelling has caused widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip, with more than 1,900 Palestinians killed, including 614 children and 370 women, and 7,696 others injured. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and there are dire humanitarian consequences.
Emirati Humanitarian Initiatives
To alleviate the severity of these consequences, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched a campaign on Friday to aid Palestinians affected by the Gaza conflict under the slogan ‘Compassion for Gaza.’ Emirati assistance for Palestinians complements continuous diplomatic efforts to stop the escalation, protect all civilians, and advance comprehensive and just peace efforts.
These humanitarian and diplomatic efforts reflect the UAE‘s genuine fraternal positions in support of Palestine and its just cause. They embody the UAE’s authentic approach to supporting brethren in various circumstances and extending a helping hand, which is a constant principle of the UAE.
The campaign aims to establish centers for collecting and packing humanitarian aid with the participation of humanitarian and charitable organizations, volunteer centers, the private sector, and all segments of society in the UAE, as well as media outlets.
This campaign is launched in cooperation with the World Food Programme and in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Ministry of Community Development, as part of the humanitarian efforts by the UAE to provide urgent assistance to the Palestinian people.
The ‘Compassion for Gaza‘ campaign also aims to show solidarity with Palestinian children and affected families amidst the ongoing war, working to alleviate humanitarian conditions, and relieving the most vulnerable groups, especially children, who constitute nearly half of the Gaza Strip’s population (over one million children) by providing them with basic necessities, maternal care, health supplies, and general hygiene products.
The campaign will start on Sunday in Abu Dhabi under the supervision of the UAE Red Crescent Authority at the Abu Dhabi Ports’ Zayed Port Hall from 9 AM to 4 PM, and it will be organized in other emirates at a later time.
Additionally, the UAE sent a plane carrying urgent medical aid to the city of El-Arish in northern Egypt on Friday, which will then be transferred to Gaza via the Rafah Crossing to provide relief support to the Palestinian people.
Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for International Development Affairs, said that this initiative comes as part of the continuous efforts by the UAE to provide humanitarian supplies to its Palestinian brothers and sisters in these difficult humanitarian conditions. He emphasized that this initiative, along with others, reflects the UAE‘s fraternal positions and its firmly rooted approach to support brethren in different circumstances.
On Friday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, also directed urgent aid to be provided to Palestinian brothers and sisters in the amount of 50 million dirhams through the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, given the difficult humanitarian circumstances facing the Palestinian brethren.
Earlier this week, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, directed urgent assistance to Palestinian brothers and sisters in the amount of 20 million dollars.
This support is channeled through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), which is committed to providing education, healthcare, and social services to Palestinian refugees. The agency is almost entirely funded through contributions from member states of the United Nations.
This support continues within the framework of the UAE‘s fraternal positions and its authentic approach to supporting brethren in various circumstances, extending a helping hand to them, which is a constant principle of the UAE.
Widespread Interaction
Tweeters from the UAE and several other Arab countries widely interacted with the UAE’s humanitarian initiatives to support Palestinians and the people of Gaza, adopting the ‘Compassion for Gaza’ campaign as a solidarity hashtag.
Among the most notable of those who interacted with the hashtag was Emirati journalist Hamed Ruaab, who tweeted: ‘The UAE, the land of goodness and generosity, is always a strong support for brothers and friends. Its position is unwavering and solid as mountains in supporting the Palestinian brothers.’
He added, ‘Compassion for Gaza, and the first Emirati medical aid planes that will land at El-Arish Airport in Egypt to support the Palestinian people… The UAE and Palestine… Multi-dimensional historic support
In the same context, Ahmed Bu Tahnoon tweeted, saying, “Compassion for Gaza: an urgent call from the UAE to our people in Palestine and Gaza.”
He added, “The UAE is steadfast in its support for Palestine and the Palestinian people to regain their full rights.”
Agreeing with him, Naji Al-Arefi said, “The UAE, a nation of humanity, following in the historical support that the UAE has provided since the time of the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed, may he rest in peace. Given the developments and the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the UAE Red Crescent is launching the ‘Compassion for Gaza’ campaign starting from Sunday.”
In the same context, Hassan Rashid Al Mulla praised the UAE’s humanitarian stance in supporting Palestine and tweeted, saying, “The UAE will remain a high-flying standard in all areas, witnessing its honorable actions and great humanitarian positions that seek goodness and extend a helping hand to all nations. Compassion for Gaza.”
Saif Al-Dareei, a UAE writer, tweeted, acknowledging the UAE‘s unwavering policy in supporting Palestine, and said, “The UAE has launched the campaign ‘Compassion for Gaza‘ to provide relief to those affected in the Palestinian people.”
He clarified, “The UAE’s policy is steady and clear in supporting the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people. The UAE works and does not seek illusory slogans. The UAE is the nation of humanity.”
The tweeter Bujasim also tweeted, saying, “The UAE has launched a campaign to provide relief to the Palestinian brethren affected by the war in the Gaza Strip under the slogan #CompassionforGaza.”
Here in the UAE, we don’t search, run, or chase after empty slogans. Here in the UAE, you will find actions and principled stances in the fields. We are your support and assistance, by the grace of God, O innocent people of Palestine; you will always find us with you.”
In the same context, the Twitter user Faisal bin Khalid said, “At a time when a group of misguided individuals and those who claim to be ‘defending the cause’ are preoccupied with exploiting events to tarnish reputations, create discord, and sow division… the UAE is preoccupied with defending the ultimate purpose, the real cause on the ground today, the Palestinian people… the fighters in Gaza… We are one body.”
On the Arab level
Syrian political analyst Mohammed Hawaidi praised the humanitarian initiatives of the United Arab Emirates and tweeted, saying, ‘The United Arab Emirates has launched a campaign to aid our Palestinian brethren affected by the war in Gaza under the slogan #Help_for_Gaza.’
He also shared another tweet with a video clip of the UAE Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, saying, ‘The UAE’s stance is steadfast and unwavering in its support for the Arab stance calling for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Yemeni writer Arslan Al-Sulimany, on the other hand, appreciated the UAE’s humanitarian campaign supporting Gaza, saying, “The UAE has launched the ‘Compassion for Gaza’ campaign to provide relief to the affected Palestinian people, aiming to establish centers for the collection and packing of humanitarian aid.”
He added, “The campaign will kick off next Sunday in Abu Dhabi under the supervision of the UAE Red Crescent Authority, with the participation of humanitarian and charitable organizations, volunteer centers, and the private sector.”
