King Abdullah II and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed hold talks in Abu Dhabi Leaders discuss concern over conflict spreading in Middle East DUBAI: Jordan’s King Abdullah II and the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held talks on Wednesday, which included international efforts to secure ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon. The two leaders met in Abu Dhabi as the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to halt Israel’s war on Gaza and as diplomats shuttled between Jerusalem and Beirut to try to end Israel’s offensive in Lebanon. Sheikh Mohamed and King Abdullah “underscored the importance of intensifying efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, ensuring full protection for civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law, and providing humanitarian support to those affected,” the UAE’s state news agency WAM reported. They also said that the UAE and Jordan were both “steadfast in supporting Lebanon’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity while expressing solidarity with the Lebanese people.” Nearly 44,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its assault there after Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7 last year, killing about 1,200. The conflict escalated to a war in Lebanon in September, where Israeli bombing against Hamas ally Hezbollah has killed more than 3,500 people. The UAE and Jordan both have relations with Israel but have been fiercely critical of Israel’s military offensives and the human suffering that they have caused. During their meeting, Sheikh Mohamed and King Abdullah spoke about widespread concern that the conflict could spread to other countries in the region. “The leaders emphasized the need to prevent conflict in the Middle East from escalating further, as it poses a threat to the region’s security and stability,” WAM reported. “They also stressed the importance of establishing a clear path toward a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace based on a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for all.” King Abdullah flew to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday morning for the meeting, along with Jordan’s Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who also attended the meeting. The UAE and Jordan have both mobilized large aid operations to help alleviate suffering in Gaza and Lebanon. Last week, four convoys of trucks carrying 605 tonnes of aid from the UAE made it to Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt. On Wednesday, eight Jordanian helicopters flew food, medicine and supplies for children, landing directly in Gaza for the first time since the fighting began.