Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
The moment the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect more than two weeks ago, displaced families in Gaza rushed back to their destroyed homes.
Since then, The National has spoken to dozens of families across the besieged enclave. Despite the devastation, none expressed a desire to leave. Instead, they are determined to rebuild. Their main obstacle, however, is man-made: Israel’s restriction on the entry of heavy machinery needed to clear debris, along with essential building materials.
The situation grew even more complex this week when US President Donald Trump suggested that his country could take over Gaza, depopulate it, and rebuild without specifying who would ultimately inhabit the Palestinian territory.
Gazans swiftly rejected the idea, insisting on their right to remain. All they need, they said, are the necessary tools to rebuild.
“The people of Gaza are being pressured, but more than that, they are being blackmailed: live in a tent or leave,” a Palestinian politician told The National on Thursday. “They are being denied the ability to rebuild their homes as a means of forcing them to leave. This is the clearest proof of ethnic cleansing.”
Gaza is currently in the first phase of a three-phase ceasefire that began on January 19. The current stage of the fragile cessation of hostilities between Hamas and Israel involves the release of 33 hostages from Gaza into Israel in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees being freed from Israeli jails.
During the second phase, the release of the remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the strip will be the focus. The third phase will cover the reconstruction of Gaza, where, as of December, two-thirds of the prewar structures had been damaged or flattened, according to UN satellite data. That amounts to about 69 per cent of the buildings in Gaza. At least 90 per cent of the population has been displaced.
Days after the ceasefire began, the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in the south opened for the first time since its closure last May, allowing aid to enter and patients to leave for medical treatment abroad. However, it has not been opened for those wanting to return.
“According to the terms of the agreement, once the ceasefire was in place, aid was supposed to flow in – including tents, caravans, and all essential materials to support humanitarian operations. However, the Israeli occupation has obstructed this process,” said Ismael Thawabta, director of the government media office in Gaza. “A few days ago, four bulldozers were allowed in from Egypt, but that is nowhere near enough.”
He described the situation as “extremely difficult,” adding that Gaza is trying “to restore life to what it once was, but we continue to face obstacles, including border closures and the ban on entering heavy machinery and construction materials needed to salvage what remains”.
Breaking point
The delayed entry of vital equipment has left thousands of displaced families exposed to harsh weather. The situation reached breaking point this week as powerful storms tore through the region, sweeping away tents and worsening already inhumane living conditions.
Among those affected by the storm is Mahmoud Ghaban, 45, a resident of Beit Lahia, who returned home after the ceasefire only to find his house destroyed. “We had no choice but to set up a tent on a neighbour’s farmland because our home was reduced to rubble,” he told The National.
Inside the small tent, 23 family members shared the cramped space.
“My family of 10, my parents, my two brothers, and their families all lived together under one fragile shelter. The situation was already unbearable, but the storm made it even worse. The flooding and strong winds ripped our tent apart, leaving us out in the open.”
Mohammed Abu Shurkh, 37, returned from southern Gaza to find his five-story home in the Safatawi neighbourhood in northern Gaza destroyed. Worse, six of his family members who had stayed behind remained buried under the rubble.
“As soon as I arrived, I set up a tent next to my destroyed home for two reasons: first, because this is my home, my land, my place; and second, so I could stay close to the bodies of my siblings and their children who remain trapped under the ruins,” Mr Abu Shurkh said.
In his stunning comments earlier this week, Mr Trump suggested that the more than two million Palestinians in Gaza should be relocated to countries such as Jordan and Egypt and that the US could assume control of the strip. He described the coastal enclave as having the potential to become the “Riviera of the Middle East” and said he was prepared to send troops there. Legal experts said the idea breaches several international laws.
On Thursday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the army to prepare a plan to allow the “voluntary departure” of residents from the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported.
However, for many residents of Gaza, leaving the enclave is just a US-Israeli “fantasy” that won’t materialise.
“The truce has lasted over 15 days, yet there is no sign of rebuilding, no rubble removal, and no efforts to provide shelter. The world must act,” said Mr Abu Shurkh, a father of six.
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
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Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30, December 1-2
International Vets
Christina Noble Children’s Foundation fixtures
Thursday, November 30:
10.20am, Pitch 3, v 100 World Legends Project
1.20pm, Pitch 4, v Malta Marauders
Friday, December 1:
9am, Pitch 4, v SBA Pirates
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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
On sale: now
Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
By Marion Rankine
Melville House
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
TOURNAMENT INFO
Opening fixtures:
Friday, Oct 5
8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Paktia Panthers
Saturday, Oct 6
4pm: Nangarhar Leopards v Kandahar Knights
8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Balkh Legends
Tickets
Tickets can be bought online at https://www.q-tickets.com/apl/eventlist and at the ticket office at the stadium.
TV info
The tournament will be broadcast live in the UAE on OSN Sports.
Not Dark Yet
Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer
Four stars
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
more from Janine di Giovanni
ACL Elite (West) - fixtures
Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)
Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
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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
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)
