'A path forward': UAE minister Reem Al Hashimy hails 'momentous' Board of Peace meeting

Reem Al Hashimy, UAE's Minister of State for International Cooperation, described the recent Board of Peace meeting as a "historic" moment.

"The Board of Peace is an effort to try to do things differently... to solve conflict and crisis that have been going on for decades," she said in an interview with Fox News.

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She stressed that the tone of the discussions was grounded in pragmatism. "There was a real sense of practicality, pragmatism..Instead of talking about problems, we would find ways — even if they're different — to solve them. And it was quite exciting to be part of something historical," Al Hashimy said.

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The meeting comes amid the ongoing situation between Hamas and Israel, as well as broader regional tensions. While acknowledging the challenges, Al Hashimy pointed to tangible progress, such as increased humanitarian aid deliveries, the return of hostages, and improving conditions on the ground.

“We are in a different place today than we were even a year ago… These are elements that we should celebrate — but also push ourselves to do better and do more,” she said.

"We keep pushing each other and ourselves for a really dignified solution for the conflict to ensure that people in Gaza also have the type of life that they frankly deserve to have," the minister added.

Check out a short clip from the interview below:

She also emphasised the UAE’s leading role in supporting Palestinians. “Half of all the humanitarian aid that goes into Gaza actually comes from the UAE. We want to continue this trajectory while bringing together a coalition of countries willing to put forward pragmatic and practical plans,” she explained.

The minister also clarified that the Board of Peace is not an intended to replace the United Nations, but is a platform for collaboration. “It's a framework and a mechanism (that) brings different players to the table to try to do things that have been traditionally locked up and unable to solve through,” she said.

Addressing broader geopolitical tensions, including between the US and Iran, Al Hashimy rejected what she described as a "defeatist attitude".

"We should keep trying to push forward new ways to solve these problems. I really hope there is no war in my region. We're really hopeful that a dialogue would come into place, ” she said.

Minister Al Hashimy concluded by highlighting the meeting’s global significance: "What happened today was truly momentous because we got countries from around the world who wanted to join this new mechanism to try and put forward a solution-driven, practical approaches. This is an attempt for a path forward."

Written by

Elizabeth Gonzales

Elizabeth Gonzales is a Digital Journalist who loves writing about the expat life — and ways to make the most of it. When she's not looking for new hacks to share with readers, you may find her giving them a real laugh at one of her stand-up comic events.