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The Israeli army has admitted that one of its dogs bit a Palestinian man during an operation in Gaza, causing injuries that received "initial medical treatment" from troops before they left him behind when they came under attack.
The army was responding to questions from The National about the death of Mohammed Bahar, a 24-year-old-man with Down syndrome, whose body was found in his family's home in Shujaiya neighbourhood more than a week after the incident.
Mr Bahar's family say he was attacked by the dog as troops surrounded their home on July 3 during what the army described as "significant exchanges of fire" with "Hamas terrorists" in the area.
"As part of the operation against the terrorists, the troops searched buildings using a canine. Inside one of the buildings, the canine detected terrorists and bit an individual," the army said, without specifying if the individual was deemed to be a "terrorist".
Mr Bahar's mother said the dog bit his shoulder and then his arm before troops entered and took her son to another room.
"The troops provided initial medical treatment to that individual in a separate room within the building and urged its family to evacuate the apartment to avoid staying in the combat area," the military said.
Family members told The National they were ordered to leave without being allowed to see Mr Bahar or take him with them, allegations that the Israeli military statement did not address.
It said there exchanges of fire outside with Hamas forces and that a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at a tank, causing injuries and a death among their ranks.
"Following the RPG strike, the troops that gave initial medical treatment to the individual who was bitten in the apartment, had to leave to ensure treatment was given to the injured soldiers," it said.
"At this point, the individual likely remained alone in the building."
The military did not specify the nature of Mr Bahar's injuries that would have prevented his family taking him away with them when they were told to leave.
The family told The National that Mr Bahar's body was discovered in the house when one of his brothers was able to return to the area 10 days later.
“He found Mohammed lying on the ground, dead, with his body starting to decompose and with no signs of medical treatment," his sister Sarah said.
The Israeli army statement said it "regrets any harm to civilians during combat operations", and that its dogs were "highly trained and operate to the highest standards".
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
RESULTS
Bantamweight:
Zia Mashwani (PAK) bt Chris Corton (PHI)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) bt Mohammad Al Khatib (JOR)
Super lightweight:
Dwight Brooks (USA) bt Alex Nacfur (BRA)
Bantamweight:
Tariq Ismail (CAN) bt Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Featherweight:
Abdullatip Magomedov (RUS) bt Sulaiman Al Modhyan (KUW)
Middleweight:
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) bt Christofer Silva (BRA)
Middleweight:
Rustam Chsiev (RUS) bt Tarek Suleiman (SYR)
Welterweight:
Khamzat Chimaev (SWE) bt Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA)
Lightweight:
Alex Martinez (CAN) bt Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Welterweight:
Jarrah Al Selawi (JOR) bt Abdoul Abdouraguimov (FRA)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
