Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
As nations around the world announce whether they will honour an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, citizens of Gaza say they have little hope the ruling will change the course of the year-long war.
Just hours after the court's decision, fresh Israeli strikes across the enclave killed 21 people, including a fisherman setting out to sea, and a family of eight at home in Shejaa. Almost 44,000 people have been killed by Israeli fire on Gaza since the war broke out in October 2023, sending millions fleeing from their homes under Israeli eviction orders and scrabbling for food and other basic necessities as the inflow of aid was all but halted.
The ICC said there were reasonable grounds to believe Prime Minister Netanyahu and Gallant were criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution and starvation as weapons of war, as part of a “widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza”.
Now the warrants have been issued, signatory nations to the ICC, including all EU nations, Canada and Japan, should in theory arrest the pair if they visit. But Gazans told The National that although the arrest warrants are satisfying, they are doubtful they will be implemented.
“The decision is fair in its content but unjust in its timing; delayed justice is an outright injustice,” said lawyer Yousef Salem, who works on humanitarian issues in Gaza, calling the decision “symbolic”.
“[Netanyahu's] policies remain unchanged even under significant pressure from the US administration, and they are unlikely to shift due to a symbolic decision that cannot be implemented under current global standards,” Mr Salem, now living in Istanbul after fleeing Gaza, told The National.
He said the arrest warrants could realistically only be acted on with the backing of the US, which is not a signatory to the court. Outgoing President Joe Biden called the warrants “outrageous”, saying the US “will always stand with Israel against threats to its security”.
Israel launched its war on Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed southern Israel in an October 7, 2023 attack which killed 1,200 people and led to more than 250 being taken hostage. It says Hamas uses Palestinians as human shields and is to blame for casualties in Gaza. Mr Netanyahu called the warrants issued on Thursday “anti-Semitic” and vowed to continue Israel's actions.
The Israeli government has repeatedly denied the allegations of the ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, who sought the warrants from the court’s judges in May. The warrants also included top Hamas commander Mohammed Deif, whom Israel claims to have killed. Hamas has not confirmed his death.
Displaced from her home in Gaza city to Khan Younis in the enclave's south, Madleen Abu Saif said the decision from the ICC came late “but at least it came”.
“I think this decision will not make a difference because Israel doesn’t recognise the ICC,” the 28-year-old told The National. “It will not influence the continuing war or a ceasefire.”
Moves towards a ceasefire have stalled multiple times, with talks shepherded by the US, Egypt and Qatar paused for months. Meanwhile, a new front in the fighting has opened in Lebanon as Israel fights on the ground and bombards from above, targeting the Hezbollah group.
Ms Abu Saif retains some faith in nations around the world to impact the war by acting on the arrest warrants.
“I hope that the world does their part and enforces the decision, as a number of countries said that they will arrest [Mr Netanyahu]. I hope their power to enforce the decision not only shows that they are supporting humanity but does something to make people believe that there is justice in the world.”
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
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.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Company%20profile
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AIR
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
How it works
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.
A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Company profile
Name: Oulo.com
Founder: Kamal Nazha
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2020
Number of employees: 5
Sector: Technology
Funding: $450,000
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Race card
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
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
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
