Al Maktoum has made a number of charitable donations to Palestinian causes in the struggle against Israel. This includes a grant of 600 houses to Gaza following the 2008-2009 Gaza war, when he cancelled New Year celebrations and the official opening of the Dubai Shopping Festival to mark solidarity with the Palestinians, as well as donations for Palestinian refugees from the 1948 Palestinian exodus. Reflecting widespread public reaction to the events, and part of a groundswell of donations from prominent Emirati citizens, he also dedicated his victory and prize money from winning a major endurance race in Bahrain on 10 January 2009 to the Palestinian people.