At least seven people died on Wednesday as clashes intensified between Palestinian factions and armed extremists in Lebanon’s largest refugee camp for Palestinians, Ain Al Hilweh.
At least four people were wounded on Wednesday evening, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
Videos circulated of camp residents carrying suitcases and rucksacks, leaving the vicinity of the camp, parts of which were on fire.
“The contacts and meetings that took place today at the highest levels did not succeed in stabilising the ceasefire,” the state news agency reported.
It was referring to meetings between Lebanese leaders and senior officials in Fatah – the dominant political party in the Palestinian Authority.
Fatah spokesman Youssef Al-Zari’i said: “Today our positions were attacked by terrorist forces, which forced our members to respond to them."
But social media groups aligned with the camp’s Islamist factions claimed that Fatah had launched the attack.
Fatah denied it had launched a military operation, saying in a statement that “zero hour has not yet been determined".
It was a violent repetition of a cycle that began in late July after the assassination of senior Fatah commander Abu Ashraf Al Armoushi by hardline Islamist militants, prompting party officials to demand the surrender of the killers or face forceful retribution.
But the militants remain barricaded inside two UN compounds within the camp.
Battles have since raged intermittently in the camp and its outskirts, while both sides trade blame for the routine breakdown of ceasefires.
At least 28 people have died in the two rounds of fighting that have taken place since late July, with dozens wounded and thousands displaced to mosques, schools, shelters and the homes of relatives in Saida city, where Ain Al Hilweh is.
Saida city has become victim to the conflict, with buildings damaged and at least one civilian dead due to stray fire.
Last week, five Lebanese soldiers were injured in the shelling of their military position near the camp.
Ain Al Hilweh is home to more than 50,000 registered Palestinian refugees, although unofficial estimates place the camp population at 70,000 people.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
The specs: Audi e-tron
Price, base: From Dh325,000 (estimate)
Engine: Twin electric motors and 95kWh battery pack
Transmission: Single-speed auto
Power: 408hp
Torque: 664Nm
Range: 400 kilometres
Read more about the coronavirus
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
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
