Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Palestinians sheltering in Gaza's coastal Al Mawasi area have told of the severe hardship they are facing, days after Israel ordered 100,000 people to flee to the area from the southern city of Rafah.
Tens of thousands in areas in the east of Rafah, including Al Salam and Tal Al Sultan, were told to “immediately evacuate” on Monday morning.
Hours later, Israeli troops seized and closed the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, cutting off all potential exits to Gaza.
The Karam Abu Salem crossing reopened and closed again on Wednesday, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, after allowing only one lorry of fuel into the strip.
Al Mawasi, between Rafah and Khan Younis, is already home to more than 450,000 Palestinians displaced from other parts of Gaza – and has been attacked multiple times despite being described as a “safe zone” by the Israeli army.
Ola Aboud, 45, was displaced from Gaza city to Al Mawasi with her father, sister and three children.
“The water that we receive here, and we buy, is polluted,” she told The National.
“I have become sick many times, with a pain in my abdomen and vomiting, which lasted for two days. All my family members suffered the same symptoms.
“It was already crowded with people, and it's become worse with more people coming.”
The growing number of displaced has caused prices of food to soar, she added, at a time when a full-blown famine has been declared in the north and is moving south, according to the World Food Programme.
“I hope this nightmare ends soon, and we can go back to our homes in Gaza city,” Ms Aboud added.
About 50,000 people were estimated to have fled Rafah within 48 hours of Israel's orders, Scott Anderson, the senior deputy director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, told CNN on Wednesday.
He said Al Mawasi did not have adequate infrastructure to cater for the surge in numbers.
“It's essentially a sandy area, so there's no sewage infrastructure, there's no water infrastructure. There aren’t roads that lead into it,” Mr Anderson warned.
Abu Mohammed Abu Amra, 65, arrived in Al Mawasi on Tuesday, after his home was damaged by shelling. He has collected relief assistance to buy a tent, which he says is costly.
“I haven't built a bathroom, so I need to walk to reach the nearest one. I can't walk, and it is hard for me,” he said.
Many of those fleeing Rafah have been displaced several times already and fled south as Israel pushed through northern Gaza in late October, forcing more than 1 million people from their homes.
"Rafah was never equipped to host nearly 1.5 million Palestinians. And now that space shrinks yet again and they're being asked to move yet again," Jessica Moussan, media relations adviser for the International Committee of the Red Cross, told The National.
"The constant stress, and pervasive sense of insecurity is an extra layer of suffering to the people of Gaza. No one knows what the immediate or distant future holds for them and their loved ones.
"The psychological toll of living through nearly seven months of relentless conflict – the longest in a decade – is immense."
Osama Al Hinnawi, 50, fled to Al Mawasi four months ago, and said the area was originally empty and not prepared to host displaced people.
Insects and polluted water are rife amid mounting piles of rubbish, he said, with local authorities unable to deal with the levels of waste.
Speaking to The Guardian in March, a senior aid official said water lorries were only servicing Al Mawasi once a day, with people forced to relieve themselves in the sand or sea.
“There is no real organised assistance. Sanitary conditions are appalling,” said the official.
Other aid officials, who spoke to The National anonymously, described Al Mawasi as "razed" and said the surrounding area has been completely devastated by the war.
The impact of Al Mawasi's poor infrastructure is compounded by even less aid entering Gaza than before, they said.
"A cessation of hostilities is crucial to allow uninterrupted aid distribution throughout Gaza," Ms Moussan added. "As the occupying power, Israel has a responsibility to ensure the basic needs of the civilian population are met."
In January, a compound housing employees of the International Rescue Committee and Medical Aid for Palestinians came under attack in Al Mawasi.
Four British doctors were injured in the air strike, alongside MAP staff and a bodyguard, while the compound sustained “significant damage.”
Despite the risks, Palestinians displaced several times said they had nowhere else to go.
“The Israeli army is not trusted. What if they reach us, and we are forced to move again?” said Abu Mohammed.
“I prefer to die than to move again.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The low down
Producers: Uniglobe Entertainment & Vision Films
Director: Namrata Singh Gujral
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Nargis Fakhri, Bo Derek, Candy Clark
Rating: 2/5
MATCH INFO
Championship play-offs, second legs:
Aston Villa 0
Middlesbrough 0
(Aston Villa advance 1-0 on aggregate)
Fulham 2
Sessegnon (47'), Odoi (66')
Derby County 0
(Fulham advance 2-1 on aggregate)
Final
Saturday, May 26, Wembley. Kick off 8pm (UAE)
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO
Age: 30
Favourite book: The Power of Habit
Favourite quote: "The world is full of good people, if you cannot find one, be one"
Favourite exercise: The snatch
Favourite colour: Blue
8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
RESULTS
Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ) by decision.
Women’s bantamweight
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) beat Cornelia Holm (SWE) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Omar Hussein (PAL) beat Vitalii Stoian (UKR) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) beat Ali Dyusenov (UZB) by unanimous decision.
Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) beat Delfin Nawen (PHI) TKO round-3.
Catchweight 80kg
Seb Eubank (GBR) beat Emad Hanbali (SYR) KO round 1.
Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Ramadan Noaman (EGY) TKO round 2.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) beat Reydon Romero (PHI) submission 1.
Welterweight
Juho Valamaa (FIN) beat Ahmed Labban (LEB) by unanimous decision.
Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) beat Austin Arnett (USA) by unanimous decision.
Super heavyweight
Maciej Sosnowski (POL) beat Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) by submission round 1.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
Dubai World Cup Carnival card
6.30pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
8.15pm: Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
8.50pm: Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
9.25pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections
6.30pm: Final Song
7.05pm: Pocket Dynamo
7.40pm: Dubai Icon
8.15pm: Dubai Legacy
8.50pm: Drafted
9.25pm: Lucius Tiberius
'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai,
HBKU Press
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
RESULT
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 0 Al Ain 6
Al Ain: Caio (5', 73'), El Shahat (10'), Berg (65'), Khalil (83'), Al Ahbabi (90' 2)
NINE WINLESS GAMES
Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace (Oct 27, PL)
Liverpool 5-5 Arsenal (Oct 30, EFL)
Arsenal 1-1 Wolves (Nov 02, PL)
Vitoria Guimaraes 1-1 Arsenal (Nov 6, Europa)
Leicester 2-0 Arsenal (Nov 9, PL)
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton (Nov 23, PL)
Arsenal 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt (Nov 28, Europa)
Norwich 2-2 Arsenal (Dec 01, PL)
Arsenal 1-2 Brighton (Dec 05, PL)
Fighter profiles
Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.
Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)
Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.
Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)
Since her brown belt days, Ferreira has been dominating the 70kg, in both the World Pro and the Grand Slams. With a very aggressive game.
Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)
One of the biggest talents coming out of Europe in recent times. She is known for a highly technical game and bringing her A game to the table as always.
Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)
Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.
Martina Gramenius, 32, (Sweden)
Already a two-time Grand Slam champion in the current season. Gramenius won golds in the 70kg, in both in Moscow and Tokyo, to earn a spot in the inaugural Queen of Mats.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
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Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books
MATCH DETAILS
Juventus 2 (Bonucci 36, Ronaldo 90 6)
Genoa 1 (Kouame 40)
'Shakuntala Devi'
Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra
Director: Anu Menon
Rating: Three out of five stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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