Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
The humanitarian situation is rapidly growing worse in southern Gaza, where people displaced by the war have been crammed in a “highly congested area along the beach in the burning summer heat”.
Active conflict and lawlessness in the area have made it “near impossible” for the World Food Programme and its partners to meet the surging demand, the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) said in its latest situation report issued on Wednesday.
There is also a critical lack of milk and formula for babies and nutritional supplements for children and pregnant and breastfeeding women, Ocha said.
“Many households report having only one meal every day, with some having one meal every two or three days, relying mostly on bread, food sharing with other families and rationing stocks,” it said.
WFP deputy executive director Carl Skau, who spent two days in Gaza this month, said the situation in the was "quickly deteriorating".
"A million people have been pushed out of Rafah and are trapped in a highly congested area along the beach in the burning summer heat. We drove through rivers of sewage.”
Displaced Gazans are living in overcrowded makeshift shelters and tents that are in dire need of repair and do not offer any protection from extreme heat, it said.
Most of Rafah city's estimated population of 1.5 million were forced to leave when Israel's military began a ground operation there on May 7.
Ocha said there are an estimated 60,000 to 75,000 people in Al Mawasi, a coastal area west of Rafah that the military has declared a safe zone.
Mr Skau said that while food deliveries to northern Gaza had improved, humanitarian workers there were finding it more difficult to do their job.
“Staff spend five to eight hours waiting at checkpoints every day. Missiles hit our premises, despite being deconflicted," he said.
Israel's military continues to attack sites across Gaza, including Al Mawasi, in the ninth month of its war against the Hamas militant group.
More 37,400 people have been killed and more than 85,500 have been injured since the war began on October 7, according to the latest toll released by Gaza's health authorities on Thursday.
Israeli forces pounded areas in the central Gaza Strip overnight, killing at least three people and wounding dozens of others, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.
At least two women were killed and 12 others injured in Israeli air strikes on a house in Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
In Deir Al Balah, one civilian was killed and several others injured when a missile launched from a drone hit a gathering, according to medical sources.
Israeli artillery shelled the Al Bureij and Al Moghazi refugee camps, also in central Gaza, and central and western Rafah and eastern Khan Younis, both in southern Gaza, Wafa said.
The Israeli army said on Thursday that troops were continuing "precise, intelligence-based, operational activity" in Rafah, near the border with Egypt.
It said troops killed several militants and located rocket launchers while conducting targeted raids in specific areas.
The army said an air strike killed a Hamas commander, Ahmed Hassan Alsauarka, in the Beit Hanoun area in northern Gaza.
It said Mr Alsauarka was a squad commander in the Nukhba Forces who took part in the deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7.
Israeli authorities said on Sunday that the military would observe a "tactical pause" between 8am and 7pm to allow the delivery of aid arriving through the Karam Abu Salem crossing in southern Gaza.
However, nine Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike as they waited for aid lorries at the crossing, Reuters quoted medical sources as saying on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a floating pier on Gaza's coast is expected to resume operations on Thursday, US officials told Reuters.
They said the pier had been reattached to the shore on Wednesday, after being removed last Friday due to poor sea conditions.
Aid deliveries using the US-built pier began on May 17, with the UN saying it allowed about 100 tonnes of supplies to reach warehouses.
Pier operations have been disrupted by rough seas, as well as poor weather and security concerns.
US President Joe Biden announced the plan to build the structure in March as fears grew of famine in Gaza, home to 2.3 million people.
The US military estimated it would cost more than $200 million to operate for the first 90 days and would involve about 1,000 service members. It is unclear how long the pier will be used for aid deliveries.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
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
Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
RESULT
Los Angeles Galaxy 2 Manchester United 5
Galaxy: Dos Santos (79', 88')
United: Rashford (2', 20'), Fellaini (26'), Mkhitaryan (67'), Martial (72')
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) | US$95,000 | (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) ) | $175,000) | (Turf) 1,600m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 3 (TB) ) | $300,000) | (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Curlin Handicap Listed (TB)) | $160,000) | (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB)) | $175,000) | (T) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (T) 2,000m
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto
Price: From Dh39,500
Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed auto
Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
The%20specs
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