Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
The killing of Hamas's political leader Ismail Haniyeh in a suspected Israeli strike in Tehran early on Wednesday has drawn thousands of Turks on to the streets of Istanbul, waving Hamas and Palestinian flags.
A merchant sold satin scarfs printed with the words, “martyr Ismail Haniyeh”. Others carried banners showing the faces of other Hamas leaders, including its founder Ahmed Yassin, who was killed by Israel in 2004.
“We came here today because a great mujahid, Ismail Haniyeh, was lost, and we are mourning,” Ramazan Citak told The National at the march’s starting point at Fatih Mosque in Istanbul on Wednesday night.
Turks across the political spectrum support Palestinian rights, and Turkey’s official position backs a two-state solution. The issue is particularly emotive for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's generally more conservative and pious support base.
“The Palestinian resistance and Jerusalem are Turkey's red line. Hamas is the one carrying the flag for the independence of the occupied lands,” an adviser to the Turkish President told The National.
Condolences poured out from Turkish government officials following Mr Haniyeh’s death.
“We condemn the murder of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, one of the leading figures of the Palestinian cause, as a result of a Zionist assassination in Tehran,” said Omer Celik, spokesman for Mr Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Israel has struck Hamas leaders in Iran, Lebanon and Palestine, but not in Turkey so far. Ankara warned Israel against doing so following the assassination of Hamas official Saleh Al Arouri in Beirut in January.
Mr Erdogan has ruled Turkey for 21 years and in that time has built a reputation as a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause and Hamas.
Ismail Haniyeh went on an extended visit to Turkey in April. President Erdogan welcomed him in his Istanbul office, where the pair exchanged friendly embraces.
Other Turkish political parties in parliament also met with the Hamas leader, and described him as “our dear brother”.
Some of the movement's senior officials have also spent long periods in Turkey, and Israel has accused Ankara of offering Turkish passports to some of its members. Turkey never confirmed the allegations.
At the same time, Turkey has had a roller coaster of diplomatic relations with Israel. Following the killing of 10 Turkish citizens on an aid flotilla attempting to enter Gaza in 2010, Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador and officially downgraded diplomatic ties. Relations warmed before ambassadors were told to leave again in 2018, returning in 2022.
Over the same period, trade ties built up between the two nations, with Turkish companies exporting significant quantities of cement, steel and other building materials to Israel.
Mr Erdogan has also distanced himself from western countries over the war in Gaza, accusing them of complicity in the deaths of Palestinians.
That is part of a broader political attempt by Mr Erdogan and other senior officials to portray Turkey as an alternative centre of power and protector of Muslims. They warn that support for Israel will create long-term mistrust and resentment among Middle Eastern countries.
“The globalist neoliberal elites that rule the US and the powers behind them are trying to create war and chaos in order to survive,” the presidential adviser said.
“Spreading the conflict and assassinations are increasing hatred towards the US, Israel and England. If they cannot develop another method, they will not only lose but will also pay a very heavy price.”
After Hamas’s October 7 attacks, Turkey initially took a conciliatory position as it attempted to play a mediating role between Hamas and Israel. But its efforts were overshadowed by the US, Egypt and Qatar, and Mr Erdogan’s rising criticism of Israel also appeared to be a response to domestic anger over ties with the country.
In early May, Turkey banned imports from and exports to Israel, prompting a drop off in trade previously worth hundreds of millions of dollars a month. In its latest foreign trade figures for June, Turkey's Statistical Institute has no numbers recorded for Israel.
Mr Erdogan’s increasingly harsh comments about Israel could harm any prospects of a bigger Turkish role in the Palestinians’ future, some observers say. The Turkish leader has repeatedly compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler; Israeli officials have responded with criticisms of Turkish support for Hamas.
“Turkey’s one-sided stance means it has very little influence in the diplomatic sphere on discussions about the future of Gaza,” Gallia Lindenstrauss, a researcher at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies, told The National.
Even before Mr Haniyeh’s killing this week, tensions had escalated between Turkey and Israel after Mr Erdogan threatened to intervene in the country. It prompted Israel to call on Nato countries to expel Turkey from the group. Israel is not a member of the alliance but has been an official partner since 1994.
“Partners do not have the authority to ask the alliance to 'expel a member' from Nato,” Mehmet Ceylan, a former Turkish ambassador to Nato, told The National. “There is no legal provision or a procedure to kick out an ally from the alliance.”
However, not all Turks are as supportive of Hamas as Mr Erdogan and his conservative allies.
Following Mr Haniyeh’s assassination, a senior official from Turkey’s main opposition, the Republic People’s Party (CHP), condemned the attack but did not glorify the Hamas leader, framing remarks around concerns over regional escalation and the need to maintain a focus on Gaza.
“We are especially concerned that this will not contribute to the peace of the region, that it will escalate the tension and the conflict,” CHP deputy chairman Murat Emir told Turkish legislators in Ankara. “Our desire is for the whole world to pay attention to the massacre, especially in Gaza, and to do whatever it can to stop it.”
About three-quarters of Israel-Turkey trade was Turkish exports, meaning that firms have lost a key source of income at a time when its economy is suffering a years-long crisis and inflation of over 70 per cent.
Many Turks take issue with the Israeli state, rather than its people.
“In Israel, there are lots of people who want peace,” said Ince Erkul, an engineer who attended the Istanbul march. “It’s just Netanyahu and some Zionist groups who want war.”
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Results:
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1.400m | Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Saab, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,600m | Winner: Majd Al Gharbia, Saif Al Balushi, Ridha ben Attia
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed Dh 180,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Money To Burn, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh 70,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Kafu, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 2,400m | Winner: Brass Ring, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
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Sweet%20Tooth
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Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
GYAN’S ASIAN OUTPUT
2011-2015: Al Ain – 123 apps, 128 goals
2015-2017: Shanghai SIPG – 20 apps, 7 goals
2016-2017: Al Ahli (loan) – 25 apps, 11 goals
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
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
THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
UAE SQUAD
Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)
Results
5pm: Wadi Nagab – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Al Falaq, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
5.30pm: Wadi Sidr – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Fakhama, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
6.30pm: Wadi Shees – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mutaqadim, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 – Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Wadi Tayyibah – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Poster Paint, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
Landfill in numbers
• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane
• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming
• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi
• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year
• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away
• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
