UAE Condemns Deadly Nablus Raid By Israeli Forces, Calls For De-Escalation

The UAE has issued a statement condemning Israeli forces' deadly raid in the Palestinian city of Nablus.

In a statement, the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Israeli forces stationed in Tel Aviv should de-escalate and not take actions that will destabilize the region, the official news agency of the country, WAM, reported.

The statement comes after the forces stormed Nablus early Wednesday morning, leaving 11 people dead and hundreds severely injured.

The UAE also called on Israeli forces to uphold all regional and international efforts seeking to advance the peace process in the Middle East, urging them to put an end to violence. The country also condemned the unlawful acts that may disrupt the "two-state solution," which aims to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestine and declare Palestine as an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The police raised the alert level in Nablus on Wednesday afternoon after Israeli forces carried out a military raid in the West Bank city, exchanging fire with alleged Palestinian terror groups in the area. Authorities said the raised alert meant additional security efforts in towns bordering the West Bank security barrier and other central cities, including Jerusalem.

The police also said they were expecting Palestinian terrorists to retaliate following the raid, as the group claimed at least six of the 11 casualties in the clash were their operatives.

A senior military official said, over the years, Gaza-based terrorist groups, particularly the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, have launched rockets at Israel each time members of their groups are killed or apprehended in the West Bank. Authorities are on high alert as they also anticipate a violent response in East Jerusalem.

The UAE was not the only country in the Middle East to express its strong condemnation of the recent raid. On Wednesday, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Saudi Arabia also issued a statement condemning the act, affirming "the Kingdom's total rejection of the severe violations of international law by the Israeli occupation forces."

The ministry also called on the international community to "assume its responsibilities to end the occupation, stop the escalation and Israeli aggressions, and provide the necessary protection for civilians."