DOHA, Qatar

Qatar said Thursday that its emir met with the president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday to discuss recent developments in Palestinian territories, including the protection of civilians against Israeli attacks and de-escalation in the region.

The talks came in an unannounced visit to the UAE capital by Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Qatari emir's office said in a statement ahead of an expected emergency Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia on Saturday on the Gaza Strip, pummeled by Israeli attacks for over a month.

In their meeting at the Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi, Al Thani and Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed regional and international developments, particularly those concerning the occupied Palestinian territories, added the statement by the Amiri Diwan.

It also said the two Arab Gulf rulers discussed ways to step up humanitarian and relief efforts, protect civilians, and de-escalate the situation in the Gaza Strip to achieve stability and security in the region.

At least 10,812 Palestinians, including 4,412 children and 2,918 women, have been killed in Israeli air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,600, according to official figures.

*Writing by Ziad Aslan in Ankara