United Arab Emirates carrier Etihad Airways makes the unusual flight to deliver 16 tons of humanitarian aid for Palestinians via Tel Aviv. Supreme Leader Khamenei calls for armed struggle against Israel in the West Bank, says Persian Gulf states "betray Palestine by supporting Israel."

By News Agencies and ILH Staff

Published on 05-20-2020 08:12

Last modified: 05-20-2020 08:57

Etihad Airways flew aid for the Palestinians amid the coronavirus pandemic from the capital of the United Arab Emirates into Israel, marking the first known direct commercial flight between the two nations | Photo: an Etihad Airways flights loaded with aid for the Palestinians to fight the coronavirus pandemic is loaded in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Etihad Airways flew aid for the Palestinians amid the coronavirus pandemic from the capital of the United Arab Emirates into Israel, marking the first known direct commercial flight between the two nations

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday accused the United Arab Emirates of "betraying" Persian Gulf states and the Palestinians after the UAE-based Etihad Airways debuted a direct commercial flight between Israel and Abu Dhabi.

The airline sent one of its cargo planes, carrying 16 tons of coronavirus aid for Palestinians. As Neither the West Bank nor the Gaza Strip have airports, the plane landed at Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport.

The UAE has no diplomatic ties to Israel, yet the flight marked a moment of cooperation between the two nations after years of rumored back-channel discussions over the mutual enmity of Iran and other issues.

Video: Reuters

Etihad, the state-owned, long-haul carrier based in Abu Dhabi, confirmed the flight took place, saying, "Etihad Airways operated a dedicated humanitarian cargo flight from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv ... to provide medical supplies to the Palestinians. The flight had no passengers on board."

In the past, private and diplomatic planes often had to travel to a third country before heading onto Israel.

The UAE's state-run WAM news agency later issued a statement saying it delivered 16 tons of protective gear, medical items, and ventilators "to curb the spread of [the] COVID-19 pandemic and its impact in the occupied Palestinian territory."

The cargo flight landed at Ben Gurion on Tuesday night, with ground crews pulling out pallets of cargo bearing both the Emirati and Palestinian flags. It will go toward UN efforts to fight the outbreak.

While Arab leaders opted not to address the issue, Iran blasted the move as "an act of betrayal" of the Palestinians.

"Today, some Persian Gulf states have committed the biggest treachery against their own history and the history of the Arab world," Khamenei tweeted. "They have betrayed #Palestine by supporting Israel. Will the nations of these states tolerate their leaders' betrayal?"

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