In a show of solidarity with the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has prohibited all New Year’s Eve fireworks and festivities.
The decision comes as a response to the escalating violence in the region, which has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Sharjah police announced the decision in a Facebook post on Tuesday warning that violators will face legal repercussions.
The ban is declared as “…an earnest expression of solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip,” Sharjah police said in the post.
The UAE forged ties with Israel in 2020 in a move that paved the way for other nations to follow suit.
According to Palestinian Health Ministry data, the Israel-Gaza conflict has led to substantial casualties, with a newly updated death toll of over 21,000 Palestinians, and 1,000 Israelis emanating from Hamas’s attack on Israel.