JUST IN: There Is No Justification For The Taking Of Hostages Or The Targeting Of Civilians –Nusseibeh
According to a report by The Times Of Israel, at the United Nations General Assembly, the United Arab Emirates’ foreign minister Lana Nusseibeh delivered a pointed speech addressing Israel’s ongoing policies in the Palestinian territories and the broader Middle East. She declared that Israeli plans to annex the West Bank are “unacceptable,” while also criticizing recent Israeli strikes that targeted Hamas leaders in Qatar.
The remarks carried added weight given the UAE’s history with Israel. The country normalized relations with Israel in 2020 under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, a move that reshaped regional dynamics. However, Emirati officials have recently stressed that Israeli annexation of any part of the West Bank would be a “red line,” underscoring limits to the normalization process.
Nusseibeh’s speech aligned with a chorus of Arab leaders at the UN who strongly condemned Israel’s military actions. Several went as far as accusing Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza. While Nusseibeh did not use that term, she expressed deep concern over the humanitarian impact of the conflict. “Nothing can justify targeting tens of thousands of civilians or besieging them or starving them and forcibly displacing them,” she said.
She also warned against Israel’s territorial ambitions, adding, “Nor can anything excuse the pursuit of unacceptable expansionist ambitions, including the threat of annexing the West Bank.”
Unlike some other speakers, Nusseibeh dedicated part of her address to addressing actions by Palestinian factions as well. She condemned hostage-taking, an apparent reference to individuals being held by Hamas in Gaza. “There is no justification for the taking of hostages or the targeting of civilians in conflict,” she said. “We emphasize the need to protect the hostages as per international humanitarian law.”
Looking ahead, she reaffirmed the UAE’s long-standing support for a two-state solution. Nusseibeh called for a Palestinian state “living side by side with Israel in security, peace and prosperity.” She emphasized that such a state should not only guarantee coexistence but also be structured with conditions to prevent violence. She insisted that its creation must involve “restricting the use of weapons,” and stressed that the envisioned outcome should allow “no place for terrorists and extremist groups.”
By balancing criticism of both Israeli policies and violent tactics employed by Palestinian militants, Nusseibeh sought to position the UAE as a pragmatic advocate for peace while signaling clear limits to what her country views as acceptable conduct.
