Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates has taken a stand by banning all New Year’s Eve fireworks displays and celebrations. The Sharjah Police released a statement announcing the prohibition, emphasizing its intent to demonstrate authentic solidarity and humanitarian support for the residents of Gaza.
Sharjah Police urged everyone to cooperate and comply with the ban. Legal measures will be taken against violators, the police said.

“Sharjah Police urge everyone, both institutions and individuals, to cooperate and comply, emphasizing that they will take all legal measures against those who violate the instruction, and reaffirming that humanitarian solidarity is a deeply ingrained culture and ideology followed by the Emirate of Sharjah,” the statement said.

Almost 21,000 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on the Palestinian territory, with thousands more feared buried under rubble, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Nearly all of the enclave’s 2.3 million people have been driven from their homes, many several times.