UAE DENIES SENDING WEAPONS TO GAZA

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000164 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ARP, NEA/PI, NEA/PPD E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A TAGS: PGOV KPAL PARM AE SUBJECT: UAE DENIES SENDING WEAPONS TO GAZA ¶1. The UAE has publicly dismissed Hamas claims that it had dispatched weapons and ammunitions to the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. On February 1, in a press release headlined "UAE Astonished at Allegations of Sending Weapons to Gaza," the official Emirates News Agency (WAM) stated that the UAE did not send weapons but only bullet proof vests, vehicles, and tents for the Presidential Guard at the request of the Palestinian presidency. ¶2. Full text of the WAM release is as follows: (Begin Text) An official source at the UAE Foreign Ministry today voiced astonishment at the news that the country has allegedly sent weapons and ammunitions to the Gaza Strip. The source dismissed the news as "false and baseless." "The UAE sent only bullet proof vests, vehicles and tents for the Presidential Guard. They were dispatched on request of the Palestinian Presidency," the source said. "These are equipments, not weapons. They were not sent to a certain faction but to the highest authority that represents all Palestinian people." The source called on all parties in Gaza strip to stop fighting and to focus their efforts on resuming dialogue and strengthening national unity. He reiterated UAE's respect to the independent Palestinian decision and its keen efforts in support of the Palestinian people. "The humanitarian aid given by the UAE to the brotherly Palestinian people is a living example that we always seek to help and support the Palestinian people to cling firmly to their land, to overcome difficult and tragic conditions and to achieve their ultimate goal of establishing their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital," added the source. (End Text) SISON UAEresponse-WeaponsGaza UNCLASSIFIED