Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Medical staff and civilians who were trapped in Israel's siege of Al Shifa Hospital are still missing as officials search the scenes of destruction, government and medical officials told The National on Wednesday.
Israeli forces withdrew from the medical complex in Gaza city on Monday following a two-week raid that left behind a trail of destruction and piles of decomposing bodies. The Israeli military said it had killed 200 "militants" and detained 900 for questioning, without specifying where.
Relatives of Palestinians missing from the hospital told The National of their frustration and concern.
Sarah Al Madhoun, whose husband worked as a nurse at Al Shifa, said he was arrested with several other doctors and is still missing.
“When the Israeli soldiers returned to the hospital they arrested my husband while he was on duty, along with many medical staff members. They fired at some of them, abused and tortured them in front of people,” said Ms Al Madhoun, who was among those stuck in Al Shifa during the raid.
Some of the Israeli soldiers were speaking in Arabic and insulting medical staff, she said.
“After that, they took them for interrogation and up to now we don't know anything about their fate,” she said, explaining that Israeli soldiers had set up interrogation rooms inside the hospital.
Ms Al Madhoun had moved to stay at Al Shifa Hospital after her home on Jalaa Street in Al Zeitoun to the south of Gaza city was destroyed during the war.
“We thought Al Shifa was a safe place because the occupation had withdrawn from it,” she said. "However, our expectations were wrong."
Dr Motasim Salah, a member of the Health Emergency Committee, said several of his colleagues were killed by Israeli forces inside the hospital, while others were missing.
"There were around 58 members of the medical staff inside Al Shifa Hospital," he told The National. "Israeli forces killed four of them, including the director of the pharmacy department, director of maintenance and a plastic surgery doctor.
"Israeli forces arrested approximately 41 members of medical staff, including all the specialists in the intensive care unit.
"Among the 41 medical staff members, there are some whom we don't have any information about; they are missing and not officially arrested because the Israeli occupation published a list of names of a number of medical staff, and those individuals are not on the list. Their families have come to inquire about them," he added.
Dr Salah said the Red Cross and the World Health Organisation had been contacted in the hope they could provide information regarding the missing staff but no update had been received.
Another civilian who had sought shelter in Al Shifa told The National three of her sons were still missing.
Nisreen Ishtiwi, 50, a homemaker, said she had taken her family to Al Shifa after their home in Al Zeitoun was destroyed and Israeli troops forced them to leave and head to the west of Gaza.
“I was with them, we had iftar together, and then I went to sleep at my brother's house,” she said. "At night, we woke up to find that the Israeli army invaded Al Shifa.
“I couldn’t find any news about them and I was so worried about them for two weeks”.
Ms Ishtiwi said people who were inside the hospital had told her that her sons were arrested and tortured, but she has not since received any news about them.
“Every time I heard about people being executed, I was very afraid and I prayed, 'God, please don't let it be them'," she said.
“My sons have no affiliations with any organisations or factions, they have never had any connections with any Palestinian party."
Israel has accused Palestinian organisations, including Hamas, of using hospitals as command centres, claims which Hamas and medical staff deny.
Ms Ishtiwi said she returned to Al Shifa after the Israeli withdrawal looking for her sons but still knows nothing about their current circumstances.
Omar Al Hiw, 30, who lives in Jabalia camp in northern Gaza, said he had no information about his father, who was inside Al Shifa with his brother when Israeli forces attacked.
“My brother, Salah, was injured in Al Shifa Hospital and went to get treatment there, my father was with him to take care of him,” he told The National.
Mr Al Hiw said he was told by people inside the hospital that Israeli soldiers had arrested his 52-year-old father, and abused him in front of other people in the room.
“When the army released photos of the detainees in Al Shifa, we were surprised to see a picture of my father among them," he added.
"My father doesn’t have any connection to the resistance.
“We have lost contact with him, we don't know how to reach him. We tried with the Red Cross and others, but with no result."
Other key dates
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Finals draw: December 2
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Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
Specs
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Williams at Wimbledon
Venus Williams - 5 titles (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008)
Serena Williams - 7 titles (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016)
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65', Barella 83')
Verona 1 (Verre 19' pen)
Sheikh Zayed's poem
When it is unveiled at Abu Dhabi Art, the Standing Tall exhibition will appear as an interplay of poetry and art. The 100 scarves are 100 fragments surrounding five, figurative, female sculptures, and both sculptures and scarves are hand-embroidered by a group of refugee women artisans, who used the Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery art of tatreez. Fragments of Sheikh Zayed’s poem Your Love is Ruling My Heart, written in Arabic as a love poem to his nation, are embroidered onto both the sculptures and the scarves. Here is the English translation.
Your love is ruling over my heart
Your love is ruling over my heart, even a mountain can’t bear all of it
Woe for my heart of such a love, if it befell it and made it its home
You came on me like a gleaming sun, you are the cure for my soul of its sickness
Be lenient on me, oh tender one, and have mercy on who because of you is in ruins
You are like the Ajeed Al-reem [leader of the gazelle herd] for my country, the source of all of its knowledge
You waddle even when you stand still, with feet white like the blooming of the dates of the palm
Oh, who wishes to deprive me of sleep, the night has ended and I still have not seen you
You are the cure for my sickness and my support, you dried my throat up let me go and damp it
Help me, oh children of mine, for in his love my life will pass me by.
Points tally
1. Australia 52; 2. New Zealand 44; 3. South Africa 36; 4. Sri Lanka 35; 5. UAE 27; 6. India 27; 7. England 26; 8. Singapore 8; 9. Malaysia 3
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Read more about the coronavirus
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Blah
Started: 2018
Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and talent management
Initial investment: Dh20,000
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 40
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
More on Quran memorisation:
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
GOODBYE%20JULIA
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
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Bangladesh tour of Pakistan
January 24 – First T20, Lahore
January 25 – Second T20, Lahore
January 27 – Third T20, Lahore
February 7-11 – First Test, Rawalpindi
April 3 – One-off ODI, Karachi
April 5-9 – Second Test, Karachi
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
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.
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Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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