Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Israel intensified attacks on Gaza on Thursday amid last-minute wrangling over a ceasefire agreement, with more than 70 Palestinians killed in the enclave since the deal was announced on Wednesday night.
At least 66 were killed in Gaza city, seven in Khan Younis and four in the central governorate, Gaza's civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal said in a statement. Among the dead were 21 children and 25 women, while more than 200 other Gazans were injured, he added.
The violence came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of creating a “last-minute crisis”. He delayed a meeting of his cabinet, which has to approve the agreement.
“Hamas is backing out of the explicit understandings agreed upon with the mediators and Israel in a last-minute blackmail attempt,” a statement from his office said.
Hamas senior official Ezzat Al Rishq said the group was committed to the deal.
“Israel is racing against time to kill as many Palestinians as possible before the ceasefire comes into effect, as their goal is death and destruction,” said Ahmed Aloush, 26. A home belonging to his relatives was struck overnight in the Sheikh Radwan district of Gaza city.
He said a residential area was hit by shelling, with homes destroyed. More than 20 people were killed and some are trapped under rubble, he added.
“We were stunned because they are known to keep to themselves and have no connections to any factions or organisations,” Mr Aloush said. “People were safe in their homes, sleeping after feeling reassured by the ceasefire, but Israeli brutality knows no bounds.”
In Al Daraj neighbourhood of Gaza city, Ahmad Mushtaha, 31, said relief over news of a ceasefire was mixed with fear after further Israeli bombing across the enclave.
“A large number of our neighbours and the family members were injured, and terror filled our hearts,” he told The National. “We had just celebrated the ceasefire, hoping the bombing, death and destruction would ease. But this is Israel’s way – killing until the very last moment. People can’t even celebrate because they’re scared – scared to move too much, fearing they might die.”
The ceasefire agreement is scheduled to take effect on Sunday, bringing a pause to the deadliest war in Gaza's history.
Israel's security cabinet was meant to meet on Thursday morning to approve the agreement, with Mr Netanyahu widely expected to have enough support to pass it. But the meeting was postponed, with Mr Netanyahu saying it would not take place “until the mediators announce that Hamas has approved all the details of the agreement”.
The three-phase deal would involve Israeli hostages being exchanged for detained Palestinians in phases, with the Israeli military to withdraw.
But far-right politicians in Israel have doubled down on their opposition to the deal, with many advocating continuing the war with the aim of destroying Hamas.
On Thursday, Palestinians in Gaza city said there was little sign that a ceasefire was imminent. Mohammed Jundiya, 29, in the Shujaiya neighbourhood, said a bomb hit a nearby home during the night, killing 10.
“By morning, there were more bombings around us, followed by even more, and we could hear the sounds of destruction every minute,” he told The National. “All these people were following the news of the ceasefire, hoping it would happen, and looking forward to Sunday to finally celebrate and live after all the suffering. But the occupation decided to kill them at the very last moment.”
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
How to help or find other cats to adopt
Strait of Hormuz
Fujairah is a crucial hub for fuel storage and is just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.
The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.
Last month, Iran issued a new warning that it would block the strait, if it was prevented from using the waterway following a US decision to end exemptions from sanctions for major Iranian oil importers.
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2021 World Triathlon Championship Series
May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China
Dr Graham's three goals
Short term
Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines
Intermediate term
Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations
Long term
A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness
FIXTURES
UAE’s remaining fixtures in World Cup qualification R2
Oct 8: Malaysia (h)
Oct 13: Indonesia (a)
Nov 12: Thailand (h)
Nov 17: Vietnam (h)
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.
Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
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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.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
FA Cup semi-finals
Saturday: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 8.15pm (UAE)
Sunday: Chelsea v Southampton, 6pm (UAE)
Matches on Bein Sports
Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained
Defined Benefit Plan (DB)
A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.
Defined Contribution Plan (DC)
A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.
