Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
On a clear day, passengers flying from Jordan and other parts of the Middle East to Europe are treated to a view of the Suez Canal, with air travel routes having been prolonged to avoid Israel.
Much of the air traffic was diverted over Egypt shortly after the Israel-Gaza war started, 100 days ago on Sunday.
The effects on air travel, and decreased ships passing through the canal because of attacks carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, constitute some of the costs to global trade of a war in which the main casualties remain the Palestinian civilians.
Three months on, the focus of international powers remains mostly on containing the war’s regional effects, rather than stopping it, and charting day-after scenarios without Hamas in Gaza, diplomats and observers said.
"Gaza has become a messy conflict for Israel and for everyone involved. I would be careful to bet on anything," a European official who recently attended a brainstorming session about the Gaza war in an Arab capital told The National.
Those at the meeting also discussed how to convince Israel to make its strikes on Gaza more "surgical", and garner support for reconstruction from Gulf states.
“They saw a silver lining in that the destruction Israel is causing in Gaza is so huge that reconstruction is practically impossible without a political process,” the official said.
As far as the wider region, he said, those at the meeting, including Arab and western officials, appeared to discount the possibility of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah.
“They seem to be comfortable with the Iranian signals, but on the ground we are seeing continuous escalation,” the official said.
He said Israel has learned from a 2006 war with Hezbollah that the group “can be weakened by wholesale destruction” from which Lebanon took years to recover.
Back then, the Iran-backed militia started the 34-day war with a cross-border raid aimed at taking Israeli hostages. A UN ceasefire stopped the conflict. Hezbollah claimed victory, although Israel devastated large parts of Lebanon's infrastructure.
The 2006 war began in a similar manner to the current one in Gaza, which was sparked by Hamas's October 7 attacks on Israel.
Hamas and allied militant groups killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians, and took hundreds hostage.
The subsequent Israeli offensive on the enclave has killed almost 23,000 people, according to Gaza health officials, who have given no estimate for the number of combatants killed.
The Israeli military has become bogged down in a conflict that is turning into a war of attrition, while the US, Israel’s main backer, attempts to lessen the repercussions on its Arab allies, The National was told.
This includes Washington’s support for a united Arab rejection of any permanent uprooting of Palestinians and a push for increased humanitarian aid flows.
Meanwhile, tensions are rising between Iran’s militant allies in the Middle East on one side, and Israel and the US on the other, although both Tehran and Washington have signalled their aversion to mutual war.
Since the beginning of 2024, the Gaza war has entered a new phase. Although Israel said earlier this month that combat had become less intense, military chief of staff Herzi Halevi said last week that Israel will be fighting in the enclave all year. It will also carry out more targeted strikes in Lebanon, said Lebanese political analyst Joseph Daher.
The aim, he said, is to push Hezbollah to withdraw its most lethal forces from the border.
“This has resulted in Israel growing more aggressive in its attacks, with the targeting of high-ranking commanders,” he said.
Unlike in 2006, he said, the Israelis "do not have the American green light", which limits how far they can go in Lebanon.
This could change in the future, Mr Daher said. But for now, the US is activating its diplomatic channels to “advance Israel's interests" while avoiding a regional war.
Hezbollah finds itself in a more constrained position, compelled to retaliate against Israel’s escalation without providing a pretext for war, because it wants to avoid an all-out Israeli attack on Lebanon like in 2006, he said.
He expects “certain escalation" in the coming weeks, but with calculated responses from both sides withholding from "full-scale engagement”.
Meanwhile, in Iraq and Syria, renewed attacks against US troops contribute to keeping the region “inflamed” as the Gaza war grinds on, said Jalo Marie, chairman of the Political Decision think tank in Baghdad
He said the regional scene is becoming “complicated”, citing the latest US-led strikes in Yemen and attacks in Iraq, which have expanded this year as Washington hunts for militia leaders loyal to Tehran.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, Iran's proxies in Iraq have broken a year of calm with US forces that followed the appointment of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani.
Over the past three months, the militias have launched almost daily drone and missile attacks against US troops in Iraq and Syria.
Earlier this month, a US drone strike killed a senior militia leader in Baghdad. Other strikes in remote areas killed more than a dozen fighters.
However, Mr Marie said Iran and the US are likely to continue “avoiding direct confrontation with each other for domestic considerations”.
But if the Gaza war is not resolved, "all parties in the region will escalate and that could reach a dangerous and unprecedented level".
Nada Maucourant Atallah reported from Beirut. Sinan Mahmoud reported from Baghdad.
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 592bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Price: Dh980,000
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Shakuntala Devi'
Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra
Director: Anu Menon
Rating: Three out of five stars
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UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Wayne Rooney's career
Everton (2002-2004)
- Appearances: 48
- Goals: 17
Manchester United (2004-2017)
- Appearances: 496
- Goals: 253
England (2003-)
- Appearances: 119
- Goals: 53
Uefa Nations League
League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands
League B:
Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey
League C:
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania
League D:
Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino, Gibraltar
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.
- It’s So Easy
- Mr Brownstone
- Chinese Democracy
- Welcome to the Jungle
- Double Talkin’ Jive
- Better
- Estranged
- Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
- Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
- Rocket Queen
- You Could Be Mine
- Shadow of Your Love
- Attitude (Misfits cover)
- Civil War
- Coma
- Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine
- Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
- Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
- November Rain
- Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
- Nightrain
Encore:
- Patience
- Don’t Cry
- The Seeker (The Who cover)
- Paradise City
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Results
Light Flyweight (49kg): Mirzakhmedov Nodirjon (UZB) beat Daniyal Sabit (KAZ) by points 5-0.
Flyweight (52kg): Zoirov Shakhobidin (UZB) beat Amit Panghol (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (56kg): Kharkhuu Enkh-Amar (MGL) beat Mirazizbek Mirzahalilov (UZB) 3-2.
Lightweight (60kg): Erdenebat Tsendbaatar (MGL) beat Daniyal Shahbakhsh (IRI) 5-0.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Baatarsukh Chinzorig (MGL) beat Shiva Thapa (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Bobo-Usmon Baturov (UZB) beat Ablaikhan Zhussupov (KAZ) RSC round-1.
Middleweight (75kg): Jafarov Saidjamshid (UZB) beat Abilkhan Amankul (KAZ) 4-1.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Ruzmetov Dilshodbek (UZB) beat Meysam Gheshlaghi (IRI) 3-2.
Heavyweight (91kg): Sanjeet (IND) beat Vassiliy Levit (KAZ) 4-1.
Super Heavyweight ( 91kg): Jalolov Bakhodir (UZB) beat Kamshibek Kunkabayev (KAZ) 5-0.
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Play-off fixtures
Two-legged ties to be played November 9-11 and November 12-14
- Northern Ireland v Switzerland
- Croatia v Greece
- Denmark v Ireland
- Sweden v Italy
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
MATCH DETAILS
Barcelona 0
Slavia Prague 0
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
Sonchiriya
Director: Abhishek Chaubey
Producer: RSVP Movies, Azure Entertainment
Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Manoj Bajpayee, Ashutosh Rana, Bhumi Pednekar, Ranvir Shorey
Rating: 3/5
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Squad
Ali Kasheif, Salim Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdulrahman, Mohammed Al Attas, Abdullah Ramadan, Zayed Al Ameri (Al Jazira), Mohammed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammed Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Essa, Mohammed Shaker, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah) Walid Abbas, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli), Tariq Ahmed, Jasim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Muharami (Baniyas)
The Specs
Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
