Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Israel could control all of Gaza’s borders permanently following repeated remarks by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a stretch of land known as the Salah Al Din corridor would be garrisoned by Israeli troops.
The issue sparked heated debate on the contested area, which Egypt insists is well-controlled by its forces on the Egyptian side, and which Israel insists remains a key conduit for Hamas supplies. Meanwhile, international organisations insist the southern border, in particular Rafah, is one of the most important lifelines for the Palestinian enclave.
Either way, the row has highlighted the strategic importance of this small strip of land that Mr Netanyahu calls “Hamas’s oxygen pipe".
Why is Gaza's southern border vital?
The largely devastated zone next to Egypt’s border, known to Israel as the Philadelphi corridor, was initially intended to be part of a demilitarised zone following the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace agreement. It straddles some of Gaza’s most critical land crossings for aid and postwar reconstruction material.
To Israeli forces and Hamas, it is seen as a main supply conduit for the organisation. Israel claims that much of the 6,000 tonnes of concrete they estimate Hamas used to construct hundreds of kilometres of tunnels under Gaza was brought in through the buffer zone.
Before the start of the October 7 Israel-Gaza war, the enclave was widely regarded as being under siege-like conditions. There were no-go zones around the entire territory and strict Israeli controls on goods and construction material entering the strip, a system known as the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism, which was partly overseen by the UN and the Palestinian Authority.
Israel created a buffer zone, including the corridor, during its direct occupation of the enclave before 2005, demolishing houses in Rafah, albeit on a smaller scale than in the current war. Troops departed from Gaza, along with a small number of Israeli settlements, under a short-lived peace agreement in 2005.
Egyptian concerns
The prospect of the corridor’s permanent reoccupation by Israel has sparked anger from Hamas, but also Egypt, which warned in January, as a major Israeli operation in Rafah loomed, that it would not accept a permanent Israeli presence there.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Monday that Cairo “insists on operating the Rafah crossing from the other side under Palestinian supervision and demands a return to the situation as it was before 7 October”. Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt’s State Information Service, warned in January that Israel stationing troops there would represent a “serious threat to Egyptian-Israeli relations”.
Egypt's position "is more a matter of national psychology than of any true interest", says Chuck Freilich, a former deputy national security adviser in the Israeli government.
"I think having control of the corridor is important, that's where Hamas brought in most of its resources, financial and physical, but partial solutions can be found and in any event if that is an obstacle to bringing the hostages home, whoever is still alive, it is a price worth paying," Mr Freilich told The National.
Hamas spokesman Khalil Al Hayya has said the “Israeli regime’s withdrawal from Philadelphi, Netzarim and Rafah corridors” is a condition for a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of surviving hostages.
In terms of "partial solutions", Bloomberg reported discussions in July to establish a joint EU-Palestinian Authority control mechanism for the Rafah crossing.
Mr Netanyahu's comments have also sparked anger in Israel, where an editorial in Israeli publication Haaretz said he had "sentenced the hostages to death" by insisting on retaining control of the southern border.
"Israel has to end this war and bring the hostages home. Ending the war may not be in Netanyahu's interest," Mr Freilich says.
Tunnel war
Israel has long insisted that Hamas has tunnelled under the border area from the Sinai Peninsula, smuggling weapons and material to build bunkers and more tunnels, an accusation Egypt rejects. Cairo says its troops are successful at controlling access to the enclave and that any Hamas operations along the border, or under it, would be impossible.
Egyptian troops have in the past engaged in operations to flood or blow up tunnels created by Hamas or smugglers, destroying 1,500 of the underground structures, Mr Rashwan said.
On the Gaza side of the corridor, Israel has stepped up destructive operations to expand the buffer zone, razing entire neighbourhoods, such as Al Qarya as Suwaydiya, a coastal settlement known as the Swedish village.
Gaza’s remaining crossing points
Permanent Israeli control of the border would strengthen Israel’s chokehold on Rafah, a former main transit point for aid convoys from supply hubs in Egypt, held up by stringent Israeli checks in a nearby area, Nitzana, described as a “no-man’s land”.
Some of that aid, after a slow inspection process, has been sent on to the Israel-held Karam Abu Salem crossing, which is not open around the clock, despite the urgency of the aid crisis.
Both of these crossing points have at times been closed entirely, due to fighting or disagreements between Hamas and Israel. Rafah has been shut since early May following Israel’s seizure of the crossing and failed talks between Israel, Hamas and Egypt on the terms of its reopening.
This leaves Beit Hanoun in the north, which crosses over to Erez on the Israeli side, the main crossing point into Israel and beyond, to the occupied West Bank.
Gaza has also long been without an adequate port, and its main fishing port in Gaza city in the north has been destroyed by Israeli bombardment. That is one reason why the US erected a temporary and highly controversial pier to distribute aid earlier this year.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Cologne v Union Berlin (5.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Hertha Berlin v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Freiburg (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Borussia Monchengladbach (8.30pm)
Sunday
Mainz v Augsburg (5.30pm)
Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (8pm)
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Five personal finance podcasts from The National
To help you get started, tune into these Pocketful of Dirham episodes
·
Balance is essential to happiness, health and wealth
·
What is a portfolio stress test?
·
What are NFTs and why are auction houses interested?
·
How gamers are getting rich by earning cryptocurrencies
·
Should you buy or rent a home in the UAE?
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Five films to watch
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Only Yesterday (1991)
Pom Poki (1994)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
%3Cp%3EThe%20Department%20of%20Culture%20and%20Tourism%20-%20Abu%20Dhabi%E2%80%99s%20Arabic%20Language%20Centre%20will%20mark%20International%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Day%20at%20the%20Bologna%20Children's%20Book%20Fair%20with%20the%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Translation%20Conference.%20Prolific%20Emirati%20author%20Noora%20Al%20Shammari%2C%20who%20has%20written%20eight%20books%20that%20%20feature%20in%20the%20Ministry%20of%20Education's%20curriculum%2C%20will%20appear%20in%20a%20session%20on%20Wednesday%20to%20discuss%20the%20challenges%20women%20face%20in%20getting%20their%20works%20translated.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
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
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 2
(Martial 30', McTominay 90 6')
Manchester City 0
Uefa Champions League last 16 draw
Juventus v Tottenham Hotspur
Basel v Manchester City
Sevilla v Manchester United
Porto v Liverpool
Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma
Chelsea v Barcelona
Bayern Munich v Besiktas
The studios taking part (so far)
- Punch
- Vogue Fitness
- Sweat
- Bodytree Studio
- The Hot House
- The Room
- Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
- Cryo
Read more about the coronavirus
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
More on animal trafficking
Company%20profile%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYodawy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKarim%20Khashaba%2C%20Sherief%20El-Feky%20and%20Yasser%20AbdelGawad%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2424.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlgebra%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20MEVP%20and%20Delivery%20Hero%20Ventures%2C%20among%20others%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20500%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE NEW BATCH'S FOCUS SECTORS
AiFlux – renewables, oil and gas
DevisionX – manufacturing
Event Gates – security and manufacturing
Farmdar – agriculture
Farmin – smart cities
Greener Crop – agriculture
Ipera.ai – space digitisation
Lune Technologies – fibre-optics
Monak – delivery
NutzenTech – environment
Nybl – machine learning
Occicor – shelf management
Olymon Solutions – smart automation
Pivony – user-generated data
PowerDev – energy big data
Sav – finance
Searover – renewables
Swftbox – delivery
Trade Capital Partners – FinTech
Valorafutbol – sports and entertainment
Workfam – employee engagement
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
