Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
A UN investigator accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza urged countries on Wednesday to use sanctions and arms embargoes to force the Israeli leadership to change course.
Francesca Albanese said Israel would not “change on its own” after more than five months of bloodshed in Gaza.
Her Anatomy of a Genocide report presented to the UN on Tuesday alleged Israel is intentionally killing and harming Palestinians and making Gaza impossible for them to live in.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Ms Albanese brushed off allegations from Israel and its supporters of bias as she vowed their criticism would “not change my work”.
Asked for proof of Israel's intent, she spoke of violent and dehumanising language by senior leaders that she said had “reverberated across the conduct of troops on the ground”.
“Do you think that in Rwanda and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, any government officials wrote a document saying 'I want to commit genocide'?” she asked, referring to previous allegations of genocide.
Prosecutors would be “busy for decades” if the International Criminal Court is “serious about investigating what has been done in Gaza”, she said.
Israel denies genocidal intent, saying its objective is to defeat Hamas and blaming the militants for the severe humanitarian toll.
Appeal to allies
The International Court of Justice in January ordered Israel to do everything in its power to prevent genocide, while saving for another day a ruling on whether one is occurring.
Allies of Israel, whose main military backer is the US, have urged a pause to the fighting but stopped short of sanctioning Israeli officials or alleging genocide.
Ms Albanese said they should turn to sanctions and arms embargoes “because there is no other way” of forcing an Israeli rethink.
“Because Israel is not going to change its pattern on its own and you won’t stop [it] by inertia, I urged member states to take measures,” she said.
“What I want to see is sanctions and an arms embargo as soon as possible, as it’s been done with other states which violate international law.”
Ms Albanese courted controversy last month by saying Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel was motivated by “oppression” rather than anti-Semitism.
Israel reacted with outrage by banning Ms Albanese, a special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, from entering the country.
Her comments were described as “scandalous” by France and a “disgrace” by Germany, but she said on Wednesday she had no regrets.
She told reporters in Geneva that “everyone who dares to utter a word of criticism against Israel is accused of anti-Semitism”.
Blaming October 7 purely on anti-Jewish hatred “takes out of the context completely Israel’s responsibilities in creating the conditions that have led to the violence that was committed against Israeli civilians,” she said.
In addition, she said it “feeds this discourse that Israel is facing an existential threat because the Palestinians are anti-Semitic and therefore each means is justified.
“I’m happy I did what I did, saying, sorry, this is not anti-Semitism. I faced the consequences and I’m still alive.”
Ms Albanese accused Israel of “humanitarian camouflage” by using the language of international law, such as “human shields”, to justify killings.
Israeli representatives say Hamas's use of human shields is a reason why the death toll, estimated at more than 30,000, is so high.
In Israel's narrative “everyone is a human shield … women, children, anything that is between the troops and whatever is their objective,” Ms Albanese said.
“One thing is to neutralise, destroy the mil capacity of an organisation. Another thing is to target also the civilian components and this is what has been done. Every Hamas affiliate has been considered targetable, killable and so [have] their family members.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Also on December 7 to 9, the third edition of the Gulf Car Festival (www.gulfcarfestival.com) will take over Dubai Festival City Mall, a new venue for the event. Last year's festival brought together about 900 cars worth more than Dh300 million from across the Emirates and wider Gulf region – and that first figure is set to swell by several hundred this time around, with between 1,000 and 1,200 cars expected. The first day is themed around American muscle; the second centres on supercars, exotics, European cars and classics; and the final day will major in JDM (Japanese domestic market) cars, tuned vehicles and trucks. Individuals and car clubs can register their vehicles, although the festival isn’t all static displays, with stunt drifting, a rev battle, car pulls and a burnout competition.
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The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
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
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
SPECS
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
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TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
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The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
