Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Relatives of those killed in Gaza have started to search for the remains of their loved ones beneath the rubble of the enclave to give them a proper burial.
Until the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect, Israeli eviction orders applied to 80 per cent of the enclave, the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated. Notified through social media and leaflet drops, Gazans fled their homes and other areas several times, leaving behind those who refused to, or were unable to, leave and the remains of those killed.
In the Rafah governorate, at least 137 bodies have been recovered from the streets and rubble since the ceasefire began on Sunday, with countless more still missing. In northern Gaza, dozens of bodies were retrieved from the streets in the first days of the truce.
“We are making strenuous efforts to collect the bodies and re-bury the martyrs in designated cemeteries,” Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for Gaza's civil defence, told The National. “But we face enormous challenges – a severe lack of resources, limited tools for searching and removing debris, and a critical shortage of equipment to reach the bodies.”
OCHA estimates that the enclave has more than 42 million tonnes of rubble to clear. The operation is complicated not only by lack of appropriate equipment such as diggers, but also unexploded ordnance.
“We face a daunting task of searching for the bodies of over 10,000 martyrs buried under the rubble of homes,” Mr Basal said. The bodies of about 2,840 people had disintegrated due to the types of weaponry used during the conflict, he added.
As aid agencies focus on food assistance, families have resorted to digging with their bare hands, trying to recover the bodies of loved ones.
In the Tel Al Sultan neighbourhood of Rafah, Sobhi Ziyad, 53, has been searching for his three children, who were last seen near the municipality. “Since the truce began, we’ve been running to search for them, but the entire area has turned into piles of rubble and ash. We can’t locate them, despite many people trying to help,” Mr Ziyad said.
“We asked the civil defence and ambulance teams for assistance, but they’re overwhelmed and lack the resources for extensive searches. Right now, they can only retrieve visible bodies.
“The dignity of the dead is in their burial, and I just want to bury my three sons – Imad, Saeed and Ramzi – like everyone else. I want them to have a grave I can visit. If that doesn’t happen, it will remain a heartbreak for me for the rest of my life.”
Othman Al Bayk, 42, is still searching for the bodies of his brother Ibrahim and nephews Fadi and Mohammed, who were killed in a strike on Beit Lahia. “My brother refused to leave his home, despite the dangers. He stayed with his two sons,” Mr Al Bayk said.
“Our only wish is to find their bodies so we can honour them with a proper burial. If they remain missing, it will be a sorrow that stays in our hearts for ever.”
Discovering the true scale of north Gaza's destruction
Returning to northern Gaza, an area that was under siege for months by Israeli forces, has been an especially harrowing experience for many. In December, residents in the area told The National that bodies of people shot by Israel's military or killed in strikes were being eaten by stray dogs, because it was too dangerous to retrieve the remains.
“The streets were littered with decomposed bodies and dogs had ravaged most of them,” Mr Al Bayk said. "It’s incredibly painful to see the dignity of the dead violated like this."
The clear-up of dangerous materials left over from the bombardment, which has killed about 47,000 people since the start of the conflict in October 2023, could take 21 years and cost up to $1.2 billion, a UN damage assessment found. Given the initial ceasefire period is six weeks before steps towards a more permanent peace are taken, Gazan families are moving quickly to try to recover what is left of their relatives.
For Ayman Al Souri, 48, from Jabalia refugee camp, the truce brought an opportunity to search for his son, Mahmoud, 24. “He was trapped in northern Gaza during the invasion,” Mr Al Souri told The National. "He and some other young men tried to escape through Al Faluja Cemetery, but the army targeted them.
"Mahmoud was injured, and while two young men managed to escape, they told us he had been left behind, wounded. We were certain he had been martyred.
“As soon as the truce began, I rushed with my remaining sons to the area. We found the site bulldozed and tried to locate where the rubble had been moved. After searching through a pile of debris nearby, we were certain it came from Mahmoud’s location.”
The family spent the first day of the ceasefire digging through the rubble without success. The next day, they found his clothes and later his remains.
“We gathered his remains, took him to the hospital to register him as a martyr, and then buried him in Beit Lahia Cemetery,” Mr Al Souri said. “My heart finally found some peace after I was able to bury my son and honour him. His martyrdom is difficult to bear, but it would have been even harder if he had been left without a grave.”
Watch: The Gaza ceasefire explained
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More from Aya Iskandarani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
MOTHER%20OF%20STRANGERS
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Suad%20Amiry%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Pantheon%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20304%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
Results:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 (PA) | Group 1 US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
Winner: Goshawke, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) | Listed $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Silva, Oisin Murphy, Pia Brendt
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) | Conditions $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
Winner: Golden Jaguar, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) | Group 3 $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Sandeep Jadhav
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
Winner: Oasis Charm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
Winner: Escalator, Christopher Hayes, Charlie Fellowes
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mozn%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammed%20Alhussein%2C%20Khaled%20Al%20Ghoneim%2C%20Abdullah%20Alsaeed%20and%20Malik%20Alyousef%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Riyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Shorooq%20Partners%2C%20VentureSouq%2C%20Sukna%20Ventures%20and%20others%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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.
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
FA Cup fifth round draw
Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City
Reading/Cardiff City v Sheffield United
Chelsea v Shrewsbury Town/Liverpool
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United/Oxford United
Leicester City v Coventry City/Birmingham City
Northampton Town/Derby County v Manchester United
Southampton/Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City
Portsmouth v Arsenal
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The Disaster Artist
Director: James Franco
Starring: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogan
Four stars
Landfill in numbers
• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane
• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming
• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi
• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year
• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away
• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%20and%203.6-litre%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20235hp%20and%20310hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E258Nm%20and%20271Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh185%2C100%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km
Price: from Dh199,900
On sale: now
More from our neighbourhood series:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results
Catchweight 60kg: Mohammed Al Katheeri (UAE) beat Mostafa El Hamy (EGY) TKO round 3
Light Heavyweight: Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) no contest Kevin Oumar (COM) Unintentional knee by Oumer
Catchweight 73kg: Yazid Chouchane (ALG) beat Ahmad Al Boussairy (KUW) Unanimous decision
Featherweight: Faris Khaleel Asha (JOR) beat Yousef Al Housani (UAE) TKO in round 2 through foot injury
Welterweight: Omar Hussein (JOR) beat Yassin Najid (MAR); Split decision
Middleweight: Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) beat Sallah Eddine Dekhissi (MAR); Round-1 TKO
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali Musalim (UAE) beat Medhat Hussein (EGY); Triangle choke submission
Welterweight: Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) beat Sofiane Oudina (ALG); Triangle choke Round-1
Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Saleem Al Bakri (JOR); Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Nawras Abzakh (JOR); TKO round-2
Catchweight 63kg: Rany Saadeh (PAL) beat Abdel Ali Hariri (MAR); Unanimous decision
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
