UAE leaders greet Abbas, crucial UN vote on US Gaza plan tomorrow
- Last updated: November 16, 2025 | 10:35 ..
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a congratulatory message to Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, on the occasion of his country’s Independence Day.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, sent similar messages to the Palestenian President and to Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa.
UNSC VOTE: The UN Security Council (UNSC) will vote on Monday on a resolution endorsing US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, diplomats said.
Last week the Americans officially launched negotiations within the 15-member Security Council on a text that would follow up on a ceasefire in the two-year war between Israel and Hamas and endorse Trump’s plan.
A draft of the resolution seen Thursday by media “welcomes the establishment of the Board of Peace,” a transitional governing body for Gaza - that Trump would theoretically chair - with a mandate running until the end of 2027.
It would authorise member states to form a “temporary International Stabilisation Force (ISF)” that would work with Israel and Egypt and newly trained Palestinian police to help secure border areas and demilitarize the Gaza Strip.
Unlike previous drafts, the latest mentions a possible future Palestinian state.
The United States and several Arab and Muslim-majority nations including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey called Friday for the UN Security Council to quickly adopt the resolution.
“The United States, Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan, and Türkiye express our joint support for the Security Council Resolution currently under consideration,” the countries said in a joint statement, adding they were seeking the measure’s “swift adoption.”
Friday’s joint statement comes as Russia circulated a competing draft resolution to Council members that does not authorize the creation of a board of peace or the immediate deployment of an international force in Gaza, according to the text seen Friday by reporters.
The Russian version welcomes “the initiative that led to the ceasefire” but does not name Trump.
It also only calls on the UN secretary-general to submit a report that addresses the possibilities of deploying an international stabilization force in war-ravaged Gaza.
The United States has called the ceasefire “fragile,” and warned on Friday of the risks of not adopting its draft.
SWIFT ACTION: The United States and several Arab and Muslim-majority nations including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey called Friday for the UN Security Council to quickly adopt a US resolution endorsing Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.
“The United States, Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan, and Türkiye express our joint support for the Security Council Resolution currently under consideration,” the countries said in a joint statement, adding they were seeking the measure’s “swift adoption.”
PALESTINIANS’ BODIES: The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza confirmed on Saturday it had received the bodies of 15 Palestinians the day before under the US-brokered ceasefire exchange deal.
“The Ministry of Health announces the receipt of 15 bodies of martyrs who were released yesterday (Friday), by the Israeli occupation through the Red Cross. This brings the total number of bodies received to 330” as part of the deal, the ministry said, adding it had so far identified 97.
They were returned in exchange for the remains of 73-year-old Israeli hostage Meny Godard, which Hamas returned via the Red Cross on Thursday.
The first stage of the ceasefire agreement is nearing its end. The next and even more challenging stage calls for the implementation of a governing body for Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilization force. It is not clear where either stands. Another looming question is the proposed disarming of Hamas.
WINTER RAIN: Winter’s first strong rainfall sent water cascading through parts of Gaza’s sprawling Muwasi tent camp on Saturday, as the territory struggles to cope with flooding and devastated infrastructure after two years of war.
Residents attempted to dig trenches to keep the water from flooding their tents, as intermittent rain that began on Friday dripped through tears in tarpaulins and makeshift shelters. The bursts soaked families’ scant belongings. Strong winds can also topple tents and hamper attempts to gather scarce food and supplies.
Barefoot children splashed in puddles as women made tea outside under dark clouds. Some people tried to shelter in destroyed buildings, even those at risk of collapse, with gaping holes covered by pieces of plastic.
Agencies