Israeli tanks on the border of southern Israel and the Gaza Strip on January 2, 2024. The Israeli military says reservists are returning to civilian life as the financial burden of war against Gaza is felt AFP
Israeli tanks on the border of southern Israel and the Gaza Strip on January 2, 2024. The Israeli military says reservists are returning to civilian life as the financial burden of war against Gaza is felt AFP
Israeli tanks on the border of southern Israel and the Gaza Strip on January 2, 2024. The Israeli military says reservists are returning to civilian life as the financial burden of war against Gaza is felt AFP
Israeli tanks on the border of southern Israel and the Gaza Strip on January 2, 2024. The Israeli military says reservists are returning to civilian life as the financial burden of war against Gaza is

Why is Israel pulling some troops out of Gaza?


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Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

Israel said that it would withdraw five brigades from Gaza, a move that has led one US official to say the intensity of the conflict is reducing.

Israeli officials, however, released mixed messages on the issue, saying military operations were shifting focus and fighting would continue for months.

Rocket fire from Gaza has dropped sharply in recent weeks as fighting has raged throughout the densely populated enclave of 2.3 million people, killing around 22,000 Palestinians. Israeli operations including air strikes, were reported in central Gaza on Tuesday.

An Israeli army Black Hawk helicopter flies as black smoke billows from Gaza Strip, near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel. EPA
An Israeli army Black Hawk helicopter flies as black smoke billows from Gaza Strip, near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel. EPA

Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant suggested a decline in violence will allow some Israeli “displaced communities home, in areas within a range of four to seven kilometres north of the Gaza Strip”.

Yet Maj Gen Yaron Finkelman, the chief of the Israeli army’s Southern Command, said that fighting will continue throughout Gaza, “in a variety of methods, in a variety of intensities, and in varying forms”.

“We are continuing the training of officers and commanders … After their experience in combat, they are returning to training and will join the army's line of commanders when they finish,” Israeli military spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari said.

Why is the Israeli army pulling forces back in Gaza?

Soldiers cannot remain in intense combat for weeks on end and are often taken from the front to rest and recuperate.

Secondly, the army wants some of these brigades, which were also used for military training, to pass on their combat experience to soldiers in training within Israel. And the third reason relates to Israel’s economy, which has been hit hard by the war.

The decision is also not new – Israeli media reported in early December that some of the reserve forces would be withdrawn and replaced – meaning no overall reduction in forces – after fighting in northern Gaza shifted south.

Adm Hagari said “some of the reservists will return to their families and work this week”.

This would provide a boost for the economy, he said, which has shrunk by around two per cent as hundreds of thousands of reservists have been pulled from the workplace and into military roles.

“It will result in considerable relief for the economy, and will allow them to gain strength for operations next year, and the fighting will continue and we will need them,” he said.

How many soldiers does Israel have in Gaza?

The pullback of five brigades – perhaps up to 15,000 soldiers – will mark a significant reduction in the Israeli ground presence.

But the Israeli army will still have elements of about five divisions in Gaza and while the divisions vary widely in strength, they can each comprise 10,000 to 20,000 troops.

The soon-to-be withdrawn 551st Reserve Parachute Brigade for example, which was fighting around Beit Hanoun, is one of six brigades in the 98th Infantry Division, which has a headquarters in Gaza.

For context, Israel invaded Gaza with around 20,000 troops in the north of the strip alone, having built up a force that was by some estimates up to 300,000 strong after emergency mobilisation in southern Israel.

The combat contingent later grew to around 40,000 – perhaps more – because military doctrine says attacking forces need at least a three-to-one numerical advantage.

Hamas and its allies have between 20,000 and 30,000 fighters, meaning that the Israelis are likely to have had many more than 40,000 deployed to Gaza at a given time.

A US official said the decision appeared to indicate the start of a shift to lower-intensity operations in the north of the Palestinian enclave.

Washington has been urging Israel to reduce the intensity of its military operation, amid international calls for a ceasefire as the death toll mounts.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

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Front camera: 40MP f/2.2

Battery: 5000mAh, fast wireless charging 2.0 Wireless PowerShare

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Thanksgiving meals to try

World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.

Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as  well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.

The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.

Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.

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When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi

  

 

 

 

Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.

 
Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier

ICC Academy, November 22-28

UAE fixtures
Nov 22, v Malaysia
Nov 23, v Hong Kong
Nov 25, v Bhutan
Nov 26, v Kuwait
Nov 28, v Nepal

ICC T20I rankings
14. Nepal
17. UAE
25. Hong Kong
34. Kuwait
35. Malaysia
44. Bhutan 

UAE squad
Chaya Mughal (captain), Natasha Cherriath, Samaira Dharnidharka, Kavisha Egodage, Mahika Gaur, Priyanjali Jain, Suraksha Kotte, Vaishnave Mahesh, Judit Peter, Esha Rohit, Theertha Satish, Chamani Seneviratne, Khushi Sharma, Subha Venkataraman

The%20specs
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Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

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Directed by: Pete Doctor

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Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

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Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
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Analysis

Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more

Match info

Uefa Champions League Group H

Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)

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: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm

Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km

Price: from Dh94,900

On sale: now

PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP

Men’s: 
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)

Women's: 
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)

THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final

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Al Ain 3
(Ahmed 02’, El Shahat 17’, Al Ahbabi 60’)

'Munich: The Edge of War'

Director: Christian Schwochow

Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons

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Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
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%3Cp%3EDavid%20White%20might%20be%20new%20to%20the%20country%2C%20but%20he%20has%20clearly%20already%20built%20up%20an%20affinity%20with%20the%20place.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20the%20UAE%20shocked%20Pakistan%20in%20the%20semi-final%20of%20the%20Under%2019%20Asia%20Cup%20last%20month%2C%20White%20was%20hugged%20on%20the%20field%20by%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20the%20team%E2%80%99s%20captain.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EWhite%20suggests%20that%20was%20more%20a%20sign%20of%20Aayan%E2%80%99s%20amiability%20than%20anything%20else.%20But%20he%20believes%20the%20young%20all-rounder%2C%20who%20was%20part%20of%20the%20winning%20Gulf%20Giants%20team%20last%20year%2C%20is%20just%20the%20sort%20of%20player%20the%20country%20should%20be%20seeking%20to%20produce%20via%20the%20ILT20.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20is%20a%20delightful%20young%20man%2C%E2%80%9D%20White%20said.%20%E2%80%9CHe%20played%20in%20the%20competition%20last%20year%20at%2017%2C%20and%20look%20at%20his%20development%20from%20there%20till%20now%2C%20and%20where%20he%20is%20representing%20the%20UAE.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20was%20influential%20in%20the%20U19%20team%20which%20beat%20Pakistan.%20He%20is%20the%20perfect%20example%20of%20what%20we%20are%20all%20trying%20to%20achieve%20here.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20about%20the%20development%20of%20players%20who%20are%20going%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE%20and%20go%20on%20to%20help%20make%20UAE%20a%20force%20in%20world%20cricket.%E2%80%9D%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

Updated: January 02, 2024, 12:05 PM`