Hands raised before their teacher, girls in Gaza expressed relief at being back in the classroom despite their school still bearing the scars of war.
“I was worried about the new year, I thought maybe we wouldn’t come back,” said Bian Abu Assi, a pupil at Al Zaitoun Preparatory Girls' School in Gaza City.
The 13-year-old was one of more than 1,000 pupils who returned to the school in August, three months after a devastating 11-day conflict with Israel.
While the teenagers sat side-by-side behind their desks, facing a wall decorated with trees and birds, other classrooms were unusable.
Shrapnel from nearby air strikes had ripped gaping holes in the yellow walls, while chairs lay scattered and a pin-board had been ripped in half.
“When I saw the school was damaged, I was so shocked,” said Farah Abu Saman, 13, above the din of a generator.
Some 186 schools in Gaza were damaged during the war, according to a July report by the Education Cluster which is supported by numerous NGOs.
Three of them are in such poor condition that pupils are having to study elsewhere, a September UN report said, while major reconstruction work elsewhere was finished in time for the academic year to start.
I tried not to show my fears, because I have younger brothers who cried all the time
Hala Naim,
13
At Al Zaitoun, which is run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), pupils can see shrapnel marks on the walls. Glass shattered by the force of air strikes still needs to be replaced.
Recounting their first day back at school, one of the girls said all they talked about was the conflict.
Tasneem Abu Hashem, 14, said it felt like they were coming together as “one family,” with teachers who were open to talking about what had happened.
One of her classmates, Hala Naim, said she was evacuated during the war.
“I tried not to show my fears, because I have younger brothers who cried all the time,” the 13-year-old said.
Gazan teenagers have lived through four wars and an Israeli blockade of the territory, which has led to a severe economic crisis.
Over the summer, catch-up learning and recreational activities were run by organisations such as Unicef, the UN’s children’s agency, as a way of supporting families and detecting those most in need.
Children needing psychosocial support
“Even before the May escalation, one in three children in Gaza was in need of some form of psychosocial support,” said Lucia Elmi, Unicef's special representative for Palestine.
“It was really a big challenge and now it’s increased.”
The Israeli military launched thousands of air strikes on the Palestinian enclave in May, while Gaza militants fired thousands of rockets at Israel.
At least 67 children in Gaza and two in Israel were killed during the conflict, according to the UN, while hundreds were wounded.
In preparation for going back to school, Ms Elmi said teachers were trained in how to identify children who need special treatment beyond regular learning and peer support.
Although a ceasefire has largely held since May 21, Israel has launched air strikes on Gaza on numerous occasions.
The military fire has come in response to incendiary balloons launched over the fence by Palestinians, which have set Israeli land ablaze, and five instances of rockets being fired from the enclave.
Mahmoud Ahmed, a psychologist with medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF), recalled being woken by an Israeli air strike earlier this month.
“I heard my neighbours’ children crying, screaming, ‘Is it the war again?’” he said. “They wanted to escape from their house.”
He is part of a team supporting families affected by the war, in particular helping parents explain what happened to their children and advising them on how to cope with behavioural changes.
Long-term trauma
While many children will overcome the stress experienced during the war, some will go on to develop a more traumatic reaction in the long term.
“It’s symptoms that will stay longer in the kids,” said Mario Lopez, who oversees an MSF team of psychologists in Gaza. “They will be bed-wetting, [having] flashbacks, social isolation. They are very afraid to go out, because they feel completely insecure.”
One of the pupils at Al Zaitoun school spoke of how her family had focused on going out and picnicking, as a way of bringing relief after the ceasefire. Following 11 days cowering at home under nearly constant bombardment, Gazans thronged the streets once the peace deal was reached.
Returning to school for the first time in months can be a further step towards recovery for some of Gaza’s one million children.
“What children need to do is to socialise. They need to have fun, they need to go to school, to learn and to have life with dignity,” said Mr Lopez.
“But it’s a constant challenge for them to try and live what we could consider a normal life.”
Even if the fragile ceasefire continues to hold, the repeated bouts of cross-border violence threaten Gazans’ ability to cope.
“Just stop the trigger,” said Mr Ahmed. “Everything will stop after this. We will go back to normal life, for the children especially.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GYAN’S ASIAN OUTPUT
2011-2015: Al Ain – 123 apps, 128 goals
2015-2017: Shanghai SIPG – 20 apps, 7 goals
2016-2017: Al Ahli (loan) – 25 apps, 11 goals
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
Pathaan
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Siddharth%20Anand%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Deepika%20Padukone%2C%20John%20Abraham%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
From exhibitions to the battlefield
In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.
It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.
It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.
It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Zayed Sustainability Prize
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global state-owned investors ranking by size
|
Rank
|
Country
|
Sovereign Wealth Assets ($ trillion)
|
|
1.
|
United States
|
12.125
|
|
2.
|
China
|
3.368
|
|
3.
|
UAE
|
2.497
|
|
4.
|
Japan
|
2.228
|
|
5
|
Norway
|
1.905
|
|
6.
|
Canada
|
1.860
|
|
7.
|
Singapore
|
1.591
|
|
8.
|
Australia
|
1.538
|
|
9.
|
Saudi Arabia
|
1.534
|
|
10.
|
South Korea
|
1.178
|
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
Fitness problems in men's tennis
Andy Murray - hip
Novak Djokovic - elbow
Roger Federer - back
Stan Wawrinka - knee
Kei Nishikori - wrist
Marin Cilic - adductor
