Nothing has felt the same for 14-year-old Doha Turkman since her best friend was killed by Israeli gunfire on June 20, during a raid on Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
Sadil Naghnaghia, a 15-year-old Palestinian girl, was shot in the head as she filmed Israeli military vehicles as they passed her home.
Seven people were killed and at least 91 injured in the raid.
Sadil fell into a coma and was declared dead a day later.
"We are trying to be strong for Sadil. That's the way she liked seeing us," Doha tells The National on WhatsApp. Her profile picture shows her in a black dress and Sadil, dressed in white.
"I visit her mother every day. She has become as important to me as my own mother.
"We thought our wounds would become less painful with time. But the pain just keeps getting worse.
"I used to share every detail of my life with Sadil. And now suddenly she's gone."
Doha had known Sadil her whole life. "The first day of school that I attended without her was very difficult," the teenager says.
"The first Eid without her was very difficult. I can't even concentrate on my exams because we used to study together and spend our exam season together.
"The school itself, I feel has wilted. I don't have an urge to learn."
Sadil's classroom desk was decorated by some flowers and a few words written by her loved ones.
"They say life doesn't stop for anyone and that it goes on. But ever since Sadil's martyrdom, I feel nothing has moved on," Doha says.
"Even when I'm in the midst of something, I can't feel it happening."
Jenin has been raided by Israeli troops since Sadil was killed. Three Palestinians were killed in an operation this month.
Doha's family was among dozens displaced by the violence in June. Her family fled to a relative's house in Jenin city, in a journey that began at midnight and ended about four hours later.
"I really missed her on the day of the raid. I missed her presence," Doha says.
"When these things would happen, we would keep track of all the people injured and gone.
"I opened our conversations [on her mobile phone], waiting for her to send me a message or to check up on me, because my brother went missing for 12 hours.
"We did not know where he was. And Sadil was always good at keeping everybody informed about the latest."
Doha says she and her friends pass by the cemetery where Sadil is buried every day on their way home from school.
"We go when it's less crowded because in the mornings the graveyard is full of people visiting their loved ones," she says.
"My friends are I are always consoling each other and trying to stand by each other because Sadil used to love seeing us together."
At least 196 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since January, including 40 children, and 24 people have been killed in Israel, UN figures show.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces killed Qusai Omar Suleiman Alwalji, 16, and Mohammad Rebhi Njoum, 25, in Jericho in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.
Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
THE%20HOLDOVERS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlexander%20Payne%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Paul%20Giamatti%2C%20Da'Vine%20Joy%20Randolph%2C%20Dominic%20Sessa%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
box
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Raha%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kuwait%2FSaudi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tech%20Logistics%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2414%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Soor%20Capital%2C%20eWTP%20Arabia%20Capital%2C%20Aujan%20Enterprises%2C%20Nox%20Management%2C%20Cedar%20Mundi%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20166%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
