Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Israeli forces on Tuesday surrounded Mahdi Al Shawa school in Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip, and fired at displaced Palestinians sheltering inside.
Mahmoud Hamdan, 30, told The National: “The occupation started a large-scale military operation after midnight and the vehicles advanced towards Beit Hanoun while we and thousands of people were present inside the schools.”
He said there were about 3,000 Palestinians inside the school.
In the past two weeks, some people have returned to their homes in Beit Hanoun, he said. But many of those at the school are reluctant to leave the building for fear of being shot.
“The army completely surrounded the school last night and people were unable to leave except for a few," Mr Hamdan said on Tuesday. "I, along with some guys, managed to escape with difficulty and reached Jabalia camp.”
Mr Hamdan left his family at the school, because he was worried he might be arrested by Israeli forces. He has been unable to contact his family since.
“We are trying very hard to communicate with our families at the school but it is difficult to make calls to check on them and see how they are doing," he said.
We are hearing the sound of clashes and people who are trying to escape are shot
Ahmad Shabat,
Palestinian sheltering in Mahdi Al Shawa school
Ahmad Shabat is among those inside the besieged school. Israeli forces are calling on men to leave but evacuating is too dangerous, he said.
“We are hearing the sound of clashes and people who are trying to escape are shot,” he told The National.
“We have been under attack for hours and no one is helping us. Israeli forces could break into the school any time and kill us.”
Palestinian media sources said Israeli forces were arresting men who were inside the school.
“The situation is so difficult," Mr Shabat said. "Children and women are afraid and we can’t calm them down."
On Tuesday, Israeli warplanes dropped leaflets west of Deir Al Balah and in Al Zawayda, in the central Gaza Strip, saying the area north of Wadi Gaza is considered a "dangerous combat zone”.
The leaflets said the Israeli army "continue fighting terrorist organisations. Any other information will be published to warn you to avoid returning north of Wadi Gaza, as it poses a risk to your safety, so refrain from going back north.”
Four civilians were killed and several were injured in an Israeli air strike early on Tuesday that hit two houses in the southern city of Rafah.
At least 10 bodies were recovered from a mass grave at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza city on Monday, the enclave's health authorities said.
The bodies were buried outside the reception area of what was Gaza's largest hospital, said Dr Moatasem Salah, a member of the emergency operations centre in the enclave's Health Ministry.
This month, the Israeli army withdrew from Al Shifa after an intensive, two-week siege that left the medical complex in ruins.
The UN rights office on Tuesday said Israel was still imposing illegal restrictions on humanitarian relief for Gaza.
"Israel continues to impose unlawful restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian assistance, and to carry out widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure," Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN human rights office, said at a press briefing in Geneva.
Bugatti Chiron Super Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,600hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.4seconds
0-200kph in 5.8 seconds
0-300kph in 12.1 seconds
Top speed: 440kph
Price: Dh13,200,000
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,500hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.3 seconds
0-200kph in 5.5 seconds
0-300kph in 11.8 seconds
Top speed: 350kph
Price: Dh13,600,000
The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter
1. Dubai silk road
2. A geo-economic map for Dubai
3. First virtual commercial city
4. A central education file for every citizen
5. A doctor to every citizen
6. Free economic and creative zones in universities
7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes
8. Co-operative companies in various sectors
9: Annual growth in philanthropy
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
