In a statement on Sunday, Hamas said that such a visit took place as the occupation state was persistent in its crimes and violations against the Palestinian people in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

The Movement warned that the reception of zionist leaders in Arab countries would encourage the occupation state to commit more crimes against the Palestinians and persist in usurping their rights.

It called for renouncing “the path of normalization that only serves the Zionist interests in the region and goes against the national interests of the Arab and Muslim countries and peoples.”

The Zionist regime’s president Isaac Herzog arrived along with his wife in the UAE on Sunday morning to meet senior local officials and visit Expo 2020 in Dubai.

He was welcomed to Abu Dhabi airport's presidential terminal by Abdullah bin Zayed, minister of foreign affairs.

At Qasr al-Watan, the presidential palace, artillery fired 21 rounds as Herzog was greeted by Mohamed bin Zayed, crown prince of Abu Dhabi. The Israeli anthem was played as UAE guards saluted the zionist president.

On Twitter, Herzog posted a message in Arabic thanking UAE for its “warm reception.”

En route to UAE, Herzog's plane flew over Saudi Arabia, which he said was “truly a very moving moment.” (ILKHA)