UAE launches campaign to provide humanitarian relief for Palestinians in Gaza

Centres to open in Abu Dhabi to collect food, hygiene materials and health supplies

At UN headquarters in New York City, Rachel Zeitchik, right, and Jay Zeitchik attend an event for families of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas. AFP

Palestinians flee from northern Gaza towards the south after the Israeli army demanded the population of more than a million people leave before a ground invasion. AP

Demonstrators at a rally in support of Palestine face a counter-demonstration in support of Israel near Times Square in New York. EPA

Palestinians flee from northern Gaza to the south after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning. AP

An injured man is rescued from the rubble of a building following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip. AP

Mourners take cover as sirens sound during the funeral of Tom Godo, killed during the attack by Hamas militants on the Kibbutz Kisuffim last week, in Kibbutz Naan near Tel Aviv. AFP

A Palestinian man flashes the victory sign as he and others leave northern Gaza before an expected Israeli ground offensive. AFP

Palestinians head south with their belongings after being ordered by Israel to leave northern Gaza on Friday. AFP

Israel ordered more than a million Palestinians to head south within 24 hours. Reuters

The UN criticised the directive, saying forcing such a large number of people to flee en masse would be catastrophic. Reuters

Gazans have to travel about 15km if they live in the northernmost part of the strip to reach the area south of the Wadi Gaza. Reuters

The UN said that more than 423,000 people have already fled their homes in the territory, with a sizeable number making the more than 10km journey on foot. Reuters

Palestinians with their belongings flee to safer areas in Gaza City. AFP

An Armoured Personnel Carrier drives near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip. Reuters

Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gather for mass Friday prayer during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters

A Palestinian woman waits to cross into Jerusalem's Old City through Damascus Gate next to Israeli soldiers. AFP

Israeli army infantry fighting vehicles deploy along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel. AFP

Israeli soldiers detain a man while on patrol near Kibbutz Beeri, near the Gaza Strip. AFP

Students hold in a rally in support of Palestine at Columbia University in New York. Getty Images

Family and friends mourn Valentin Ghnassia, 23, who was killed in a battle with Palestinian militants at Kibbutz Beeri near the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip. Getty Images

A ball of fire erupts in Gaza city after an Israeli air strike. AFP

Palestinians inspect the rubble of buildings hit by an Israeli air strike at Al Shati refugee camp. AP

A fireball erupts from an Israeli air strike in Gaza city. AFP

People waiting for news of victims outside the morgue at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. AFP

A girl mourns the death of members of the Samour family, who were killed in Israeli strikes on their house in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters

Israelis arrive to sign up at a weapons distribution point for people allowed to carry arms, at the Ayyelet HaShahar Kibbutz in northern Israel, near the Lebanese border. AFP

Mourners outside the morgue at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City as battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for a sixth consecutive day. AFP

Men dig graves to bury members of the Samour family, who were killed in Israeli strikes on their house in Khan Younis. Reuters

Palestinian children who fled their homes during Israeli strikes, play at a United Nations-run school in Gaza City. Reuters

Israeli soldiers near a self-propelled howitzer near the border with Gaza in southern Israel. AFP

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, left, welcomes US Secretary of State Antony Blinken upon arrival at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. AFP

Palestinian children in a makeshift shelter at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. Reuters

Boxes of humanitarian aid and supplies from Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation destined for Gaza, in Amman, Jordan. Reuters

Palestinians outside Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on the sixth day of fighting between Israel and Hamas. AFP

A pro-Israel vigil in Montevideo, Uruguay. EPA

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

The UAE has launched a campaign to provide humanitarian relief for Palestinians affected by the war in the Gaza Strip.

The “Compassion for Gaza” campaign will open centres to collect humanitarian relief packages by working with charitable organisations, volunteer centres and the private sector, state news agency Wam reported on Friday.

The Emirates Red Crescent Authority will launch the campaign on Sunday at the Abu Dhabi Ports Hall in Mina Zayed, from 9am to 4pm.

It will then be expanded into the other emirates at a later date.

The campaign was launched in collaboration with the World Food Programme, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Community Development.

Hours later, the UAE said it has sent a plane carrying “urgent medical aid” to the Egyptian city of Al Arish intended to be brought into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, Wam reported on Friday, as the deadline for an Israeli invasion of the enclave loomed.

The initiative comes under the UAE's “continuous efforts to provide relief supplies to the brotherly Palestinian people in light of the difficult humanitarian conditions” they are experiencing, reported Wam, citing Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation for International Development Affairs, Mohammed Al Shamsi.

The medical aid was sent in co-ordination with Egypt and is awaiting urgent entry into the Gaza Strip, Wam reported.

The campaign comes days after President Sheikh Mohamed directed $20 million in aid for the Palestinian people.

Later on Friday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, directed an additional $50 million in aid to be disbursed through Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, Wam reported.

The UAE plans to provide humanitarian aid such as food, hygiene materials and health supplies to Palestinian children and families affected by the continuing Israel-Gaza war.

He said the assistance would be channelled through the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

The death toll resulting from days of fierce fighting is approaching 2,500.

An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the number of deaths in Israel had reached 1,200, with more than 2,700 wounded, while the death toll in the Gaza strip has risen to about 1,200 people, a representative for the Health Ministry in Gaza said.

More than 423,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip, UN humanitarian agency OCHA said.