The UAE has sent five humanitarian aid convoys into the Gaza Strip this week, comprising 67 trucks carrying 683 tonnes of assistance, as part of Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, Gulf Today reported. The convoys included shelter supplies and food items, which were prepared and loaded at the UAE humanitarian aid logistics centre in Al Arish, Egypt, under an organised mechanism ensuring sorting, preparation and dispatch of aid in line with needs on the ground, according to the report. The convoys are part of the UAE's ongoing humanitarian efforts to support the Palestinian people, the report said, with Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 continuing its mission to alleviate suffering.
In a separate development, The National reported that the UAE sent thousands of school bags and supplies for more than 25,000 Gazan children to support education in the enclave. The Sharjah Charity International, in co-operation with the UAE's Operation Gallant Knight 3, loaded the supplies onto a cargo plane that left Sharjah International Airport bound for the UAE's humanitarian aid logistics centre in Al Arish. The more than 60-tonne shipment comprised school bags, pens, notebooks, erasers, sharpeners and other school supplies, according to The National.
Mohammed Al Shareef, spokesman for Operation Gallant Knight 3, told The National that more than 25,000 pupils in Gaza would benefit from the supplies. "We all know the beginning of the academic year is near, and we want to support pupils in Gaza and the education sector," he said. "The UAE will continue to support and stand with our Palestinian brothers at all times and under all conditions."
Hmoud Al Afari, director of UAE relief operations, told The National that the campaign, titled 'Through Education We Rise', is aimed at helping to sustain education in the enclave and enabling pupils to continue their studies despite the difficult humanitarian conditions. "The initiative will provide an opportunity for pupils to learn and return to their normal lives," Mr Al Afari said. "The campaign will enhance educational opportunities for children who represent the future."
The National also reported that the UAE's aid represents more than 46 per cent of the total aid from the world to Gaza. Operation Gallant Knight 3 was launched under the directive of President Sheikh Mohammed in November 2023, and has marked 1,000 days of continuous support, with more than Dh14.2 billion ($3.89 billion) worth of aid sent to Gaza in that time.
The UAE has also set up a floating hospital in Egypt and two medical centres in Gaza, flown thousands of patients, including many suffering from cancer and war-related injuries, to the Emirates for treatment, and its Step of Hope programme, launched in June to help Gazan civilians who lost limbs during the war, has fitted prosthetics for 72 Palestinian amputees since it began.
The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed about 1,200 people in an attack on southern Israeli communities. Israel's military campaign has killed about 73,200 Palestinians, including more than 1,100 since a ceasefire took effect in October last year, The National reported.
Both outlets described the UAE's efforts in a positive light, with Gulf Today noting the country's "longstanding approach to giving and humanitarian solidarity" and The National quoting officials emphasising the UAE's commitment to support Palestinians "at all times and under all conditions." The reports did not include comments from Palestinian or Israeli officials, and the two operations – Chivalrous Knight 3 and Gallant Knight 3 – appear to be distinct but related efforts, with the former focusing on aid convoys and the latter encompassing broader relief efforts including the school supplies shipment.