Israel to hold event in UAE for Israeli soldiers killed in wars with Arab countries

Israel's embassy in the UAE will next week host an event mourning the loss of Israeli soldiers killed in Tel Aviv's wars with Arab states.

Roi Kais, correspondent for Israeli public broadcaster Kan, on Friday tweeted an image of a poster with details of the event. The image was retweeted by the Israeli ambassador to the UAE, Hayek Amir.

The ceremony "for Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terror" will take place at the embassy in Abu Dhabi on 3 May - the day before Israel's Memorial Day, which Israel says marks the deaths of Israeli soldiers killed in wars it has fought with Arab states.

The move will likely infuriate Arab nations that have suffered heavy losses in wars with Israel since it was founded in 1948, including Egypt and countries in the Levant.

Israel and the UAE normalised ties after signing the US-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020, to the anger of Palestinians and some Arab and Muslim nations.

The two countries have signed agreements to work together in several sectors, including security, technology, and intelligence.

Memorial Day takes place just before Israel marks its foundation, on 5 May.

Palestinians mark Nakba Day on 15 May, to commemorate Israel's destruction of the Palestinian homeland and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes.