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More than 100 lorries carrying aid to the Gaza Strip amid an ongoing siege by the Israeli military have made their way from the Egyptian city of Al Arish to the Rafah border crossing 45 kilometres away, Egyptian state media said.
Shipments of aid, which have been sent periodically by pro-Palestinian governments and humanitarian organisations since the start of Israel's barrage on Gaza on October 7, had been kept at Al Arish airport in North Sinai pending Israeli approval to allow them into the bombarded enclave.
An agreement reportedly reached between several Arab governments, Israel and the US to open the crossing for five hours on Monday morning was quickly denied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday after the Israeli military bombarded the Palestinian side of the crossing on Monday evening, its fourth air strike on the area since Saturday.
Israel has repeatedly refused to allow food, water and essential medical supplies into Gaza until Israelis being held by the enclave’s ruling militant group Hamas are released.
More than 600 American citizens trapped inside Gaza were instructed by the US State Department to make their way out to the Rafah crossing on Saturday. Also among those stranded in Gaza are Canadians, Dutch and Austrians citizens, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told CNN on Monday.
However, they have yet to be allowed through pending negotiations between US officials, a number of whom, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, are currently in the Middle East for de-escalation talks with Israel and multiple Arab governments.
The Rafah border crossing's operators on the Palestinian side have also refused to allow “third nationals” to cross into Egypt until Israel allows aid into the strip, Mr Shoukry said.
Mr Blinken, who returned to Tel Aviv on Monday, his second visit to the Israeli city since he embarked on his Middle East tour, said early on Tuesday he had agreed with Israel to “develop a plan” to get aid into Gaza. However, the crossing remains closed.
US President Joe Biden, who is expected to visit Israel on Wednesday, has expressed Washington's unwavering support for Israel and sent it military aid, however, in statements this week, Mr Biden also stressed the need for Palestinian civilians to receive humanitarian aid.
He urged Israel to follow the rules of war in its response to the Hamas attacks.
Since the start of the barrage on Gaza, Egypt has maintained its side of the Rafah crossing is officially open. Mr Shoukry told CNN one reason why people trapped inside could not exit the enclave was the damage done to the crossing’s roads by Israeli air strikes.
Another reason was the lack of co-operation from the Palestinian operators who insist Israel must allow aid into the enclave before foreign citizens can leave.
Witnesses told Reuters the lorries that reached the Rafah border crossing on Tuesday morning were all carrying Egyptian aid as all the international aid remained in Al Arish.
The damaged roads had also been repaired by Tuesday morning, one witness said.
Since October 7, the Israeli bombardment has claimed the lives of more than 2,800 Gazans, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
An Israeli bombardment of the city of Rafah, one of Gaza’s five governorates, and the nearby town of Khan Younis, on Tuesday night killed 49, Gaza’s Interior Ministry said.
More than 9,000 Palestinians have been injured as the Gaza Strip’s hospitals have run out of power, water and essential medical supplies.
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: 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
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
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.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Results
Stage seven
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s
General Classification
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
SPECS
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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
