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Supplies of food and cooking gas are running dangerously low in Gaza after 11 days of an Israeli blockade on the entry of goods and aid into the Palestinian territory, The National can reveal.
Residents and an aid official on Wednesday spoke of the deteriorating situation. “This situation necessitates urgent efforts from mediators, international organisations and human rights groups to pressure for the reopening of the crossings and the entry of food aid to the population, who are already suffering from the devastating consequences of the war," said Shareef Al Nairab, media director for the UAE's Gallant Knight 3 aid operation to assist Gaza's population after the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023.
Israel imposed the ban on March 2 after the militant group Hamas rejected its proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire deal instead of entering the second stage requiring the withdrawal of Israeli forces. The move came at the start of Ramadan, dashing Gazans' hopes of properly observing the holy month after 15 months of devastating war.
“The closure of border crossings has severely impacted the delivery of aid and critical food products,” Mr Al Nairab said. "Based on reports from relief organisations, we believe that their stores of supplies are nearly depleted. If these supplies run out, Gaza will face a real famine – possibly the largest and most severe in its history."
Limits on aid entering the Gaza Strip during the war created a severe hunger crisis among the 2.3 million population, most of whom had been displaced as intense Israeli bombing and fighting destroyed homes across the small coastal enclave. Aid agencies warned repeatedly of food insecurity and severe hunger across Gaza, with near-famine conditions in some areas.
Mr Al Nairab said that although aid deliveries had increased after the ceasefire began on January 19, "the shortfall remains significant".
"The only noticeable improvement has been in the entry of basic supplies,” he added. He warned that the situation was deteriorating rapidly. “Every day, stored supplies are distributed to the people and the 11-day closure of the crossings has accelerated the depletion of these stocks. If the closure continues for just a few more days, warehouses will be completely empty, leaving the population with no resources to rely on.”
The shortage of cooking gas has already forced several bakeries to shut down, raising further concerns about food accessibility.
Abdul Nasser Al Ajrami, president of the Bakery Owners’ Association in Gaza, said bakeries were struggling to operate.
There was already “a severe crisis in Gaza” due to Israel’s closure of the border, Mr Al Ajrami told The National. "The available stock of flour and other essential baking supplies in bakeries is nearly depleted, with some bakeries having already run out completely.
“Five bakeries have permanently shut down – four in the southern Gaza Strip and one in the central governorate,” he said. “Cooking gas is a crucial component in bread production and its shortage is the primary reason for bakery closures. More bakeries may be forced to shut down in the coming days if the shortage continues.”
He estimated that most bakeries would run out of stock within two weeks at most. “There are no viable alternatives to cooking gas, especially given Israel’s restrictions on the sector and the continued closure of border crossings.”
The fact that someone else controls what we eat and drink, that our lives are dictated by the occupation’s decisions, is truly inhumane
Sarah Abu Hassira,
resident of Gaza city
Currently, 18 bakeries remain operational in Gaza, all of which are contracted with the World Food Programme, which supplies them with diesel and flour. However, the prolonged border closure threatens their ability to continue operations.
“The bakery crisis is one of the most severe hardships facing Gaza’s residents, as they rely entirely on bakeries for bread due to the unavailability of cooking gas and firewood for home baking,” Mr Al Ajrami said.
Sarah Abu Hassira, 35, described the uncertain food situation facing her and her two-year-old child in Gaza city.
“The idea that the food available now might not be available tomorrow is terrifying,” she told The National. The fact that someone else controls what we eat and drink, that our lives are dictated by the occupation’s decisions, is truly inhumane.
“Even if I tried to buy food in advance and store it, it’s impossible because there is no electricity to run refrigerators or freezers to keep food fresh. Going to the market is also a challenge – food prices are extremely high and many families simply cannot afford basic necessities. This situation forces us into starvation.”
She added: “Even bread is uncertain now. Maybe today we have it but tomorrow it may not be available due to the shortage of cooking gas. We hoped this Ramadan would be better than the last but it seems our suffering will not end.”
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Second Test
In Dubai
Pakistan 418-5 (declared)
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Day 3: New Zealand trail by 197 runs with 8 wickets remaining
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
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Price: From Dh650,000
Ovo's tips to find extra heat
- Open your curtains when it’s sunny
- Keep your oven open after cooking
- Have a cuddle with pets and loved ones to help stay cosy
- Eat ginger but avoid chilli as it makes you sweat
- Put on extra layers
- Do a few star jumps
- Avoid alcohol
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Company profile
Company name: Nestrom
Started: 2017
Co-founders: Yousef Wadi, Kanaan Manasrah and Shadi Shalabi
Based: Jordan
Sector: Technology
Initial investment: Close to $100,000
Investors: Propeller, 500 Startups, Wamda Capital, Agrimatico, Techstars and some angel investors
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Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
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Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
AL%20BOOM
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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
'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
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THE CARD
2pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
2.30pm: Handicap Dh 76,000 (D) 1,400m
3pm: Handicap Dh 64,000 (D) 1,200m
3.30pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh 100,000 (D) 1,000m
4pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (D) 1,000m
4.30pm: Handicap 64,000 (D) 1,950m
