Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Israeli attacks on central Gaza killed 21 people and wounded dozens overnight on Tuesday, as the army increased its offensive on towns, cities and refugee camps.
Eleven people died and dozens were wounded as several homes were targeted in Al Maghazi refugee camp, the Wafa news agency reported. Medical teams recovered two bodies after artillery shells struck a home.
Two more were killed in a strike at the entrance to Al Bureij refugee camp.
The Palestine Red Crescent later recovered six bodies and took eight injured Palestinians to hospital after shelling on Deir Al Balah, posting video footage of the injured being taken for medical treatment.
Sixty people have been killed across central Gaza in the past 24 hours, according to Palestinian reports.
Deir Al Balah, south of Gaza city, is home to Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital – the only functioning medical complex in the area that is now serving about a million people, health authorities say.
The hospital cannot cope with more wounded because of a shortage of medical supplies, it said on Tuesday.
Another seven were injured on Wednesday morning in strikes on Gaza city's Al Zeitoun district, and aircraft opened fire on Nuseirat refugee camp. A toll of casualties from that attack was not available.
At least 36,550 Palestinians have been killed and more than 83,000 injured since the war began in October, prompted by the Hamas attack on southern Israel which killed about 1,200 people.
At least 15,000 children are among Gaza's dead, Palestinian authorities estimate.
Another 500 Palestinians have been killed and more than 9,040 arrested in the occupied West Bank.
The Gaza death toll is to likely to be underreported as thousands are missing, presumed dead under the rubble of bombed buildings.
Attacks on central Gaza have been stepped up following weeks of heavy assaults on the southern city of Rafah, from where more than a million people fled as tanks pushed through the last refuge for most of Gaza's displaced Palestinians.
Most civilians fleeing Rafah sought shelter in Khan Younis, Al Mawasi – a supposed “safe zone” targeted a number of times by the Israeli army – and parts of central Gaza now under renewed attack.
Shelling was reported on residential neighbourhoods in Rafah on Wednesday morning and also in nearby Khan Younis.
Death from hunger
The rising death toll from Israeli attacks comes as UN agencies warned on Wednesday of worsening hunger in Gaza, with more than a million people – half of the population – expected to face "death and starvation" by the middle of next month.
A report from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) identified Gaza as one of 18 hunger "hotspots" across the globe. They said Palestine, Mali, Sudan and South Sudan were the most critical, requiring urgent aid.
“Once a famine is declared, it is too late – many people will have already starved to death,” said WFP executive director Cindy McCain.
“We have proven solutions to stop these crises in their tracks but we need the resources and the political will to implement them at scale before more lives are lost."
Numerous aid groups have been warning of famine for months, with concern heightened in recent weeks following the closure of the Rafah border crossing for aid deliveries.
The UN warning comes a day after the Famine Early Warnings System Network said famine in northern Gaza is "possible, if not likely".
It is the first technical assessment to ascertain that famine could be a reality in the devastated enclave, where dozens, including children, are already reported to have starved to death.
Ms McCain said last month that a "full-blown famine" was under way in northern Gaza, although the WFP said later its executive director "was expressing a personal opinion".
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
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
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Tewellah by Nawal Zoghbi is out now.
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
BAD%20BOYS%3A%20RIDE%20OR%20DIE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Adil%20El%20Arbi%20and%20Bilall%20Fallah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWill%20Smith%2C%20Martin%20Lawrence%2C%20Joe%20Pantoliano%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Alan%20Wake%20Remastered%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERemedy%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Microsoft%20Game%20Studios%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%204%20%26amp%3B%205%2C%20Xbox%3A%20360%20%26amp%3B%20One%20%26amp%3B%20Series%20X%2FS%20and%20Nintendo%20Switch%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Dark Waters'
Directed by: Todd Haynes
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, William Jackson Harper
Rating: ****
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
