Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi during his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cairo on October 15. AP
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi during his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cairo on October 15. AP
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi during his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cairo on October 15. AP
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi during his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cairo on October 15. AP

Israel's bombing of Gaza goes 'beyond self-defence', Sisi tells Blinken


Hamza Hendawi
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

Israel has gone beyond the right to self-defence with air strikes on civilians that have led to the mounting deaths of thousands, Egypt's leader has warned.

Abdel Fattah El Sisi told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that he feared bombings on the Gaza Strip have turned into "collective punishment".

Mr Blinken met President Abdel Fattah El Sisi shortly after he flew to Cairo from Saudi Arabia.

The US official had already been to Israel, Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. He met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas when he visited Amman.

Mr El Sisi told Mr Blinken that Israel's reaction to the deadly attacks of last weekend went beyond the right of self-defence.

I believe that the reaction under the right of self-defence turned into collective punishment. We completely renounce and reject harming civilians
Abdel Fattah El Sisi

"It is a very huge crisis and I believe that the reaction under the right of self-defence turned into collective punishment," he said, alluding to Israel's devastating bombardment of Gaza.

"It's very, very important that we reduce the tension and deliver aid to Gaza. We are talking about a sector under siege that's left without water, fuel or electricity. We need together to create a momentum to resolve this crisis," he said through an interpreter.

Mr Blinken said he was "appalled by the atrocities committed by Hamas".

"I am first and foremost a human being," Mr Blinken told Mr El Sisi. "It's hard to find the words to describe what happened.

"I am here to talk about working to resolve the crisis and to think together about the way ahead to protect civilians. I think what we are doing is both constructive and fruitful," he said.

Blinken 'listened to region's leaders'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to members of the media before leaving Cairo. AP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to members of the media before leaving Cairo. AP

Mr Blinken said the purpose of his trip was “first and foremost to listen” to leaders in the region.

“What I have heard from virtually every partner is that they do not want this conflict to spread,” he said.

He told Mr El Sisi the US “has Israel’s back”, adding “We will stand with it today, tomorrow and every day.”

Mr El Sisi said the region was going through an "unprecedented" crisis.

"What happened nine days ago was, needless to say, difficult and we, again needless to say, condemn it," the Egyptian leader said, offering his country's first public condemnation of the killing of civilians in the October 7 attack.

"But we must also acknowledge the existence of a state of hatred and anger that has accumulated over 40 years because there was no prospect for a solution of the Palestinian question that will give Palestinians hope.

“We are making an effort to contain the situation and prevent other parties from entering the conflict.

"The crisis the region is going through now is unprecedented and we must work with resolve and strength to contain it and limit its ramifications.

“We completely renounce and reject harming civilians, all civilians, and that's a position we have maintained for years."

The comments by Mr El Sisi and the US Secretary of State were released by the Egyptian leader's office in a video clip showing the start of their meeting, a rare action that's apparently designed to give maximum publicity to Egypt's take on the Gaza conflict and counter the outpouring of sympathy and support for Israel following the attacks.

"Allow me to say that I am an Egyptian citizen who grew up in a neighbourhood side by side with Jews who were never persecuted or targeted ... but they may have been targeted in Europe or maybe in Spain," said Mr El Sisi, who was born and raised near the Jewish quarter in the Cairo district of Al Gamalyiah in the Egyptian capital's medieval section.

Ground offensive

Mr Blinken will return to Israel on Monday for his second visit there in five days. His trip there will coincide with Israeli preparations for a ground offensive in Gaza that's likely to result in an even bigger humanitarian crisis.

A week of devastating Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip has killed more than 2,000 Palestinians and displaced a million. The onslaught is in retaliation for the surprise October 7 attack on Israel by Gaza militants that left at least 1,300 Israelis dead and wounded thousands more.

Mr Blinken's talks with Mr El Sisi at his Cairo suburban palace came just hours after the Egyptian leader chaired a meeting of his country's National Security Council, on which top army commanders, the prime ministers and key Cabinet members sit.

The council's meetings are only held when a pressing security issue is confronting the nation.

President Sheikh Mohamed met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at Shati Palace on Saturday. Photo: UAE Presidential Court.
President Sheikh Mohamed met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at Shati Palace on Saturday. Photo: UAE Presidential Court.

After the meeting, the council issued a statement saying Egypt rejected “the policy of eviction or attempts to liquidate the Palestinian question at the expense of neighbouring nations”.

“Egypt's national security is a red line and there will no leniency in protecting it,” it added.

That was a reference to what Cairo sees as a plot to force the Gaza Strip's 2.3 million residents into Egypt's sparsely populated Sinai Peninsula where they can have a homeland. Israel has already ordered more than one million Palestinians to move from the northern half of the strip to the south close to the Egyptian border.

Separately, Egypt is adamant that Israel must allow humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza from its Rafah border crossing. It has maintained its readiness to receive wounded Palestinians who need treatment.

Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1979. The two neighbours have in the past decade been co-operating on counterterrorism and efforts to combat human and drug trafficking into Israel. However, relations have been fraught with tension since the October 7 attacks in southern Israel, which repeatedly bombed the Gaza end of the Rafah crossing.

The statement by the National Security Council also said that Egypt viewed the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel as the only solution to the long-running conflict. It also called for a meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to be held in Egypt, bringing together relevant regional and international parties.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Cairo from Saudi Arabia. AP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Cairo from Saudi Arabia. AP

Before landing in Egypt, Mr Blinken met on Sunday morning with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. He began his regional tour on Thursday in Israel, pledging support and solidarity for the country as it responded to the surprise attacks by Gaza's Hamas militants.

He also spoke by phone with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to seek Beijing’s support in discouraging others from getting involved in the continuing Hamas-Israel war.

US officials have said the Arab leaders who met with Mr Blinken have said the current situation cannot be resolved without an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal that gives the Palestinians an independent state.

In his roughly hour-long meeting with Prince Mohammed at his private farm outside Riyadh, Mr Blinken underlined the United States’ unwavering focus on halting attacks by Hamas, securing the release of all hostages, and preventing the conflict from spreading,” the State Department said.

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How to register as a donor

1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention

2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants

3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register. 

4) The campaign uses the hashtag  #donate_hope

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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De De Pyaar De

Produced: Luv Films, YRF Films
Directed: Akiv Ali
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jaaved Jaffrey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)

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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
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Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Results

2.30pm: Dubai Creek Tower – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Marmara Xm, Gary Sanchez (jockey), Abdelkhir Adam (trainer)

3pm: Al Yasmeen – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: AS Hajez, Jesus Rosales, Khalifa Al Neyadi

3.30pm: Al Ferdous – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Soukainah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout

4pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah – Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: AF Thayer, Ray Dawson, Ernst Oertel

4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup – Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: George Villiers, Antonio Fresu, Bhupat Seemar

5pm: Palma Spring – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Es Abu Mousa, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud

Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?

Some facts about bees:

The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer

The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days

A queen bee lives for 3-5 years

This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony

About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive

Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.

Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen 

Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids

Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments

Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive,  protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts

Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain

Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities

The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes

Is beekeeping dangerous?

As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.

“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”

 

 

Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

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Major honours

ARSENAL

  • FA Cup - 2005

BARCELONA

  • La Liga - 2013
  • Copa del Rey - 2012
  • Fifa Club World Cup - 2011

CHELSEA

  • Premier League - 2015, 2017
  • FA Cup - 2018
  • League Cup - 2015

SPAIN

  • World Cup - 2010
  • European Championship - 2008, 2012
Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

THE SPECS

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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

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F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: October 16, 2023, 7:33 AM`