A Palestinian family flees an Israeli raid in Nour Shams camp, near the city of Tulkarm, in the occupied West Bank. AFP
A Palestinian family flees an Israeli raid in Nour Shams camp, near the city of Tulkarm, in the occupied West Bank. AFP
A Palestinian family flees an Israeli raid in Nour Shams camp, near the city of Tulkarm, in the occupied West Bank. AFP
A Palestinian family flees an Israeli raid in Nour Shams camp, near the city of Tulkarm, in the occupied West Bank. AFP

Israeli offensive on occupied West Bank enters second day as death toll climbs to 17


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Israel's large-scale offensive in the occupied West Bank entered its second day on Thursday where at least 17 Palestinians have been killed, reportedly including a disabled man, the official Wafa news agency said.

Ayed Mahmoud Nimer Abu Al Haija, 62, was shot by sniper in Nour Shams camp, near Tulkarm, Wafa reported, citing local sources. His whereabouts had been unknown until his family returned home to find him “covered in blood”.

The Israeli army said it was "investigating the incident in question", in response to a request for comment from The National.

Ambulance crews were unable to remove Mr Abu Al Haija's body amid a continued siege on the camp, Wafa said. Families began to leave after the Israeli army issued a forced displacement notice and gave residents four hours to move out.

Mr Abu Al Haija was one of 12 people reported killed across the occupied West Bank on Wednesday.

Further deaths were also reported on Thursday, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) commander in Tulkarm Mohammad Abu Shuja'a, who was killed along with "fellow fighters", the group confirmed in a statement. Another person was reported killed by Israeli gunfire on Thursday morning, though no further details were available.

According to medical sources cited by Wafa, about 30 people have been injured since Israeli forces began their offensive on Wednesday, when Israeli troops backed by helicopters, drones and armoured personnel carriers raided the cities of Tulkarm, Jenin and areas in the Jordan Valley.

There was also a complete network blackout at Jawwal, one of the two main telecoms companies in the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank, a witness told Reuters.

Among those shot on Wednesday was Firas Bassam Alaqma, 35, a member of the Palestinian Authority's security force. He was critically wounded in Jenin's Al Hadaf neighbourhood and pronounced dead at Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin overnight.

The raids, which Israel's Army Radio called the largest operation by scale by Israel in the West Bank since 2002, prompted widespread condemnation, including from the UN and neighbouring Jordan. The Israeli army said it was conducting an anti-terror operation in areas it believes a network responsible for a failed suicide bombing in Tel Aviv last week is operating.

The Israeli army said all of those killed were Hamas militants, while the group has so far confirmed the deaths of three of its fighters in Jenin.

Amnesty International said it believed the intensified scale of Israel's West Bank operation would result in an increase in forced displacement, destruction of critical infrastructure and measures of "collective punishment", which have been key pillars of what it called Israel’s "system of apartheid".

Deaths by Israeli forces in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem have gone up by 250 per cent since the war in Gaza began, in comparison to the year before, the UN said in a July statement. The latest violence raises the death toll in the occupied West Bank to at least 669 since the war in Gaza broke out on October 7, according to Wafa.

About 10,000 people have been arrested from the West Bank and East Jerusalem during that same period, Palestinian detainee rights groups have said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply concerned” about Israeli military action in the West Bank and demanded “an immediate cessation of these operations”.

“He calls on Israel to comply with its relevant obligations under international humanitarian law and to take measures to protect civilians and ensure their safety,” Mr Guterres's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. “He urges security forces to exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when it is strictly unavoidable to protect life.”

In reference to reports of limited access to health care, hospitals coming under siege and Israeli forces blocking ambulances from reaching the wounded, Mr Dujarric said that “all those injured must have access to medical care, and humanitarian workers must be able to reach everyone in need”.

“These dangerous developments are fuelling an already explosive situation in the occupied West Bank and further undermining the Palestinian Authority,” said Mr Dujarric.

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When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi

  

 

 

 

Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.

 
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INFO
'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

TICKETS

For tickets for the two-day Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) event, entitled Dubai Invasion 2019, on September 27 and 28 go to www.meraticket.com.

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F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners

Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta​​​​​​​
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)

The specs

Engine: 5.2-litre V10

Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm

Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm

Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto

Price: From Dh1 million

On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022 

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Which honey takes your fancy?

Al Ghaf Honey

The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year

Sidr Honey

The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest

Samar Honey

The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Poacher
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Updated: August 29, 2024, 4:06 PM`