Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Al Shifa Hospital, the biggest in Gaza, reopened its emergency department on Wednesday – five months after it was besieged and attacked by Israeli forces.
Using salvaged equipment, medical staff at the complex in Rimal, Gaza city, will again be able to offer emergency treatment to Palestinians in northern Gaza, as Israeli attacks on the enclave continue.
In April, the Israeli army conducted an operation at the hospital for two weeks, resulting in dozens of deaths, many injuries, hundreds of arrests and extensive destruction in the hospital and the surrounding area.
Mass graves were later discovered there, after Israeli forces withdrew.
But although Al Shifa's emergency department has now reopened, officials fear further strikes.
Mutasim Salah, a member of the emergency committee at the Gaza Ministry of Health, told The National of his concerns about a possible Israeli attack on the emergency department, even though it is in a designated “safe zone”.
“We requested assurances that the section would not be targeted, but as we know, the occupation forces can betray us at any moment and surprise us with a new attack,” he said.
Mr Salah said the department has no new medical equipment, instead relying on what hospital staff managed to salvage.
“We haven’t received any medical equipment or devices from external sources. The equipment we have is refurbished and was salvaged from Al Shifa Medical Complex,” he said.
Mr Salah said a small generator is currently working to ensure a good supply of electricity and it is being fuelled by reallocating diesel from other hospitals in northern Gaza. The emergency department has 80 beds, including 10 in the intensive care unit.
Since June, efforts have been carried out to restore parts of the hospital, but difficulties obtaining materials due to border closures and Israeli restrictions are slowing down the process.
The health official said a technical engineering team was brought in to develop a plan to renovate the outpatient clinic building, allowing the emergency department to reopen there. However, most of the complex remains destroyed, its departments needing to be rebuilt from scratch.
“What has been accomplished is just the first step toward reconstruction and rebuilding Gaza's healthcare system that the Israeli forces have destroyed,” Mr Salah said.
A second phase of the renovation at the hospital is continuing and is expected to focus on the surgery, maternity, central laboratory and internal medicine buildings.
“We are also working on preparing the hospital grounds to potentially accommodate field hospitals, if the opportunity arises,” Mr Salah said.
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- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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Rating: 3/5
SCHEDULE
Thursday, December 6
08.00-15.00 Technical scrutineering
15.00-17.00 Extra free practice
Friday, December 7
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 1
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Saturday, December 8
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15.30 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi
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Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
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The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
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