UAE condemns Israeli ground operations in Gaza

Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls for immediate ceasefire to protect civilian lives and open humanitarian aid corridors

A girl is rescued from the rubble of a building destroyed by Israeli air strikes in Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip. AP Photo

An Apache helicopter fires flares, seen from Sderot in southern Israel, close to the border with Gaza. Reuters

Palestinians plug their phones into portable charging stations on a street in Khan Younis, Gaza. Bloomberg

Residents search survivors among the rubble following Israeli strikes on Jabalia, northern Gaza. EPA

Palestinians search for survivors and bodies following Israeli airstrikes at the Jabalia, the largest refugee camp in Gaza. AP

Palestinians look for survivors among the rubble of destroyed buildings following Israeli strikes on Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. AP

Palestinians look for survivors among the rubble of destroyed buildings following Israeli strikes on Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. AP

A fire burns in western Gaza after an Israeli air strike. Reuters

Missiles are fired from Israel towards the Gaza Strip. Getty Images

Smoke rises from an explosion in Gaza. Getty Images

A group of men survey the destruction following air strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city, as Israeli forces entered the northern area of the Gaza Strip. AFP

A man drives a damaged car following air strikes on Gaza city. AFP

A man pushes a bicycle past the remains of buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP

A woman and children walk past a house destroyed in Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP

People dig through the rubble of a destroyed building following Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP

A man drives a damaged car past a building destroyed in Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP

People gather amid the destruction following Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP

Wrecked vehicles and rubble on the streets following Israeli strikes on Al Shatee camp in Gaza city. AFP

Smoke rises from the northern Gaza Strip as Israeli air and ground forces amplified their military activities against Hamas. EPA

An Israeli Apache attack helicopter flies close to the border with the Gaza Strip, near Israel's southern city of Ashkelon. AFP

Israeli soldiers in an armoured personnel carrier on patrol near Israel's border with Gaza. EPA

The crew of an Israeli tank prepare for ground operations near the border with Gaza. EPA

Israeli soldiers prepare for ground manoeuvres at an undisclosed location in Israel near the border with Gaza. EPA

The ruins of northern Gaza seen from Sderot in southern Israel. EPA

Smoke and explosions caused by Israeli bombardment over northern Gaza. AP Photo

An explosion on the Israel-Gaza border. Reuters

A video grab shows fireballs and smoke rising above Gaza city following an Israeli attack. AFP

An explosion in Gaza seen from Sderot in southern Israel. Reuters

A video grab shows rockets fired from Gaza city. AFP

Israeli air strikes in the northern Gaza Strip. AP Photo

A video grab shows a salvo of rockets fired from Gaza city. AFP

A flare trail fired by the Israeli army east of Khan Younis on the southern Gaza Strip. AFP

Smoke from the bombing of the Gaza Strip over the Israeli border city of Ashkelon. AFP

Flares over Gaza as seen from Sderot in southern Israel. Reuters

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The UAE has condemned Israel’s military ground operations in the Gaza Strip and called for an immediate ceasefire to protect civilian lives.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the UAE's concern as Israeli infantry moved into Gaza on Saturday in an escalation of military action that threatens to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.

Footage showed rows of tanks and armoured vehicles moving into open areas of Gaza as Israeli fighter planes carried out heavy bombardment that the military said was targeting Hamas tunnels and underground bunkers.

The ministry statement reaffirmed the need for an immediate ceasefire to ensure that civilians and civilian institutions were not targeted.

It underlined the importance of protecting civilians according to international humanitarian law and international treaties for the protection of civilians and human rights, and the need to ensure that they were not targeted during conflict.

The United Nations General Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution calling for a humanitarian truce in Gaza and a cessation of hostilities.

The resolution was heavily backed by the UAE, with MoFA stating it was an important step towards de-escalation to restore calm and protect civilian lives.

It also called for the immediate opening of safe humanitarian corridors to allow humanitarian aid to flow freely into Gaza.

Separately, the UAE has requested an emergency session of the UN Security Council as soon as possible to discuss the situation in Gaza.

The Emirates has asked Brazil, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council, to hold the meeting in an open format that would include contributions from the UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths and UNRWA’s Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini.

UN agencies have repeatedly voiced concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza in the three weeks since Israel imposed a total blockade on the territory and began a bombing campaign that has claimed about 8,000 lives.

The Israeli military said on Saturday it would allow more lorries carrying food, water and medicine to enter southern Gaza to support civilians in the south of Palestinian territory.