Palestinians inspect damaged vehicles in Al Faraa refugee camp near Tubas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters
Palestinians inspect damaged vehicles in Al Faraa refugee camp near Tubas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters
Palestinians inspect damaged vehicles in Al Faraa refugee camp near Tubas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters
Palestinians inspect damaged vehicles in Al Faraa refugee camp near Tubas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters

Israel kills Hamas commander in West Bank as fighting rages in Gaza Strip


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

Israel has killed one of Hamas's top commanders in the occupied West Bank in fierce clashes, while four soldiers were killed in an explosion in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Hamas said Mohammed Jaber Abdo was killed along with three fighters in a village near Ramallah, where the Palestinian Authority has its headquarters, a statement read.

A joint statement by the Israeli army and police earlier on Monday said undercover forces had tracked down a Palestinian suspect wanted over an attack on a nearby illegal settlement.

Since the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip started on October 7, violence has increased drastically in the West Bank. More than 530 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since, the Palestinian Health Ministry says.

Israeli forces carrying out a raid on Al Faraa camp for Palestinian refugees. AFP
Israeli forces carrying out a raid on Al Faraa camp for Palestinian refugees. AFP

The development comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday a Hamas statement of support for a UN resolution backing a proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza was a "hopeful sign".

Mr Blinken said communication with the militant group's leadership in Gaza was important.

Conversations on plans for Gaza will continue on Tuesday afternoon and over the coming days, Mr Blinken said.

"It's imperative that we have these plans," he said during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

Mr Netanyahu has "reaffirmed his commitment" to a Gaza ceasefire proposal, Mr Blinken said.

Late on Monday, Hamas said it "welcomes" the UN Security Council's vote to adopt a resolution backing the ceasefire plan.

But the militant group, which is locked in fierce fighting with Israel's military in Gaza, insisted its demands must be met, including a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory. Israel, meanwhile, has long-insisted on some form of security control over the enclave.

Mr Blinken said the military approach was not always "sufficient, and there has to be a clear political plan, a clear humanitarian plan to ensure that Hamas does not in any way, shape or form [remain] in control of Gaza and that Israel can move forward toward more enduring security".

Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, civil defence teams recovered dozens of civilians in the Sheikh Radwan and Al Daraj neighbourhoods in Gaza city, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

A search is under way for those missing as their homes were targeted by Israeli warplanes overnight into Tuesday, the agency said.

Nuseirat raid anger

In Nuseirat refugee camp, a number of civilians were killed and others injured in the air strikes, after Israel's rescue operation at the weekend of four hostages held by Hamas, during which at least 274 Palestinians were killed.

Of the weekend Israeli rescue mission, a UN spokesman said on Monday that he was "profoundly shocked at the impact on civilians of the Israeli forces' operation in An Nuseirat."

UN Human Rights office spokesman Jeremy Laurence told reporters at a press conference in Geneva that both Israel and Hamas had committed actions that "may amount to war crimes." His office was "deeply distressed that Palestinian armed groups continue to hold many hostages, most of them civilians".

Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 37,100 people, Gaza's Health Ministry says.

For months, Palestinians have been facing widespread hunger because the war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and other supplies.

The UN estimates that more than 1 million people in Gaza could experience the highest level of starvation by mid-July.

Israel launched the war after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted about 250.

TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

Britain's travel restrictions
  • A negative test 2 days before flying
  • Complete passenger locator form
  • Book a post-arrival PCR test
  • Double-vaccinated must self-isolate
  • 11 countries on red list quarantine

     
Company info

Company name: Entrupy 

Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist

Based: New York, New York

Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.  

Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius. 

Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place. 

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Updated: June 11, 2024, 1:43 PM