The first United Arab Emirates astronaut to travel to space has revealed that he took an Israeli flag with him.
Hazzaa al-Mansoori presented the flag to representatives of the Jewish state at the Dubai Expo 2020, which was held this month.
"I am happy to be here and present this Israeli flag to the people here and the Israeli public," Mr al-Mansoori said in comments reported by Ynet.
"I took this flag with me two years ago on my first mission as an Emirati astronaut and this is my gift to all Israelis."
Mr al-Mansoori reportedly plans to travel to Israel as early as January 2022 if Covid restrictions permit the trip.
One of just two candidates selected from 4022 candidates, the former F-16 fighter pilot trained in Russia before completing an eight day mission to the International Space Station in 2019.
"It was a precious, touching gift to receive," Josh Bandit, the Israeli pavilion organiser told the Jerusalem Post.
"To come dressed in his spacesuit and visit our pavilion - it shows a genuine caring for Israelis," he added
On Twitter, the astronaut said “the flag is a sign of belonging, pride, and existence…
“I had the honour to give some of the flags that I carried with me during Zayed’s Ambition mission to the representatives of different pavilions.”
Israel and the UAE formally normalised relations under the 2020 Abraham Accords, brokered by then American President Donald Trump.
Direct commercial flights began between the two states for the first time following the agreement.
