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Emiratis, Palestine expats question attack's timing

Emirati and Palestinian citizens, who expressed their anger at the Gaza massacre in interviews to Gulf News, yesterday questioned the timing of the attack that began on Saturday on the Islamic New Year's Eve.

  • By Dina El Shammaa, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:31 December 28, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Palestinians protest at the Palestinian Consulate in Dubai. The demonstrators strongly condemned Israel's brutal assault on Gaza.
  • Image Credit: Francois Nel/Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: Emirati and Palestinian citizens, who expressed their anger at the Gaza massacre in interviews to Gulf News, yesterday questioned the timing of the attack that began on Saturday on the Islamic New Year's Eve.

An Emirati housewife, Faiza Abdul Aziz, feels the attack was launched on that specific evening on purpose. "Why did they choose a day that's special for Muslims? It's an uncalled-for-action that's resulted in a lot of anger among Arabs," the 38-year-old said. She lamented the fate of one of a Palestinian police recruit, whose television footage bought tears to her eyes.

Former plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Abdullah Dawood, 76, hopes to see peace soon and continues to pray that the bloodshed comes to an end. "Politics is a dirty game and I'm praying for yesterday, today and tomorrow that this violence simply stops. For God's sake end the killing! I speak to all religions and languages; just stop the killing," he said.

A Palestinian public relations professional, Firas Mahmoud, 32, said: "Israelis have fought in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine and it just doesn't seem to end for them, but the Arabs are also to blame," said Mahmoud.

An Emirati writer, Saeed Hamdan said: "The Muslim world is celebrating, exchanging peace, harmony, security and warm greetings.

"What did all these harmless victims do to deserve being killed that way and on that special day?

"I cannot even go on to describe how bad I feel about this massacre."

Relief: Khalifa orders aid

President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ordered the delivery of urgent aid to the people of Gaza Strip.

The relief is to be delivered by the Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Charity Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Following the directive, the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) will implement a humanitarian programme in support of Gaza people. Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the RCA, ordered the setting up of a panel to follow up the developments.

- WAM

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