Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Israel’s military struck southern Gaza's largest hospital on Sunday night, killing at least two people, wounding others and causing a large fire, the enclave's Health Ministry said. Palestinian news agency Wafa put the death toll at five, saying the hospital's surgical section is now out of service after the strike.
The strike hit the surgical building of Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis, the ministry said, days after the centre was overwhelmed with dead and wounded when Israel resumed the war in Gaza last week with a surprise wave of air strikes.
Ismail Barhoum, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, who was being treated at the hospital was killed on Sunday, the group said. A 16-year-old boy who underwent an operation two days ago was also killed, the ministry added.
Israel’s military confirmed the strike on the hospital, saying it hit a Hamas militant operating there.
“A short while ago, the IDF and ISA precisely struck a key terrorist in the Hamas terrorist organisation who was operating inside the Nasser Hospital compound,” the military said late on Sunday. The strike, it said, was conducted following an extensive intelligence-gathering process and with precise munitions “in order to mitigate harm to the surrounding environment as much as possible”.
Like other medical centres around Gaza, Nasser Hospital has been damaged by Israeli raids and air strikes throughout the war.
More than 50,021 Palestinians have now been killed in the war, the ministry said on Sunday. The number includes 673 people killed since Israel's bombardment last week ended a fragile ceasefire. Dr Munir Al Barsh, the ministry's general director, said the dead include 15,613 children, with 872 of them under one year old.
The Israeli military has disputed the data given by the ministry, saying they “replete with inconsistencies and false determinations”. The military says the ministry does not differentiate between civilian casualties and militants, and “has been known to record deaths unrelated to the conflict, such as natural deaths”.
Israel claims to have “eliminated” dozens of militants since it restarted its strike on the enclave which killed hundreds of people on one of the deadliest days in the 17-month war.
Wafa news agency reported that at least 13 people were killed including children and women in Israeli air strikes across Gaza overnight. Six people, including children, were killed in a strike on a tent housing displaced people in southern Khan Younis, medical sources said.
A number of people were also killed and others injured in a strike on a house in eastern Khan Younis, Wafa said. At least six were injured in an attack on five vehicles across the city, while others were injured in attacks on tents of displaced people west of the city.
In Central Gaza, two women were killed and others injured when a warplane struck an apartment in Nuseirat.
Also, in Gaza city, a girl was killed and others injured in Al Zeitoun neighbourhood. Four people, including women, were killed in strikes on two houses in Shujaiya neighbourhood in the city.
A ceasefire in Gaza that took hold in January paused more than a year of fighting ignited by Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack into Israel, in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 hostage. Most captives have been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.
In the ceasefire's first phase, 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight others were released in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli troops allowed hundreds of thousands of people to return home. There was a surge in humanitarian aid until Israel cut off all supplies to Gaza earlier this month to pressure Hamas into changing the ceasefire agreement.
The two sides were supposed to begin negotiations in early February on the ceasefire's next phase, in which Hamas was to release the remaining 59 hostages – 35 of them believed to be dead – in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal. Those talks never began.
EU-Arab-Islamic meeting in Cairo
An Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee met in Cairo on Sunday with Kaja Kallas, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
“They discussed recent developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and expressed their grave concern over the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza and the large number of civilian casualties in recent air strikes,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.
They also condemned the resumption of hostilities and the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and called for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire-hostage and detainees release agreement, that went into effect on January 19, the ministry said.
They also stressed the need for progress towards second phase of the deal with a view to its full implementation, including the release of all hostages, a permanent end to hostilities, and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2735.
They also stressed the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the occupied West Bank under the Palestinian Authority and supporting the PA in assuming all of its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip, and ensuring it can effectively uphold its role in administering Gaza and the West Bank.
Ms Kallas said at the end of her visit to Egypt that fighting in Gaza must end and humanitarian assistance to the war-battered enclave resume.
“We strongly oppose Israel's resumption of hostilities, which caused appalling loss of life in Gaza. The killing must stop. In a new war, both sides lose,” Ms Kallas said late on Sunday night before she flew to Israel.
Speaking in Cairo, she said Hamas must release all hostages and negotiations begin on the fate of the ceasefire in Gaza.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
What you as a drone operator need to know
A permit and licence is required to fly a drone legally in Dubai.
Sanad Academy is the United Arab Emirate’s first RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) training and certification specialists endorsed by the Dubai Civil Aviation authority.
It is responsible to train, test and certify drone operators and drones in UAE with DCAA Endorsement.
“We are teaching people how to fly in accordance with the laws of the UAE,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a trainer at Sanad.
“We can show how the aircraft work and how they are operated. They are relatively easy to use, but they need responsible pilots.
“Pilots have to be mature. They are given a map of where they can and can’t fly in the UAE and we make these points clear in the lectures we give.
“You cannot fly a drone without registration under any circumstances.”
Larger drones are harder to fly, and have a different response to location control. There are no brakes in the air, so the larger drones have more power.
The Sanad Academy has a designated area to fly off the Al Ain Road near Skydive Dubai to show pilots how to fly responsibly.
“As UAS technology becomes mainstream, it is important to build wider awareness on how to integrate it into commerce and our personal lives,” said Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.
“Operators must undergo proper training and certification to ensure safety and compliance.
“Dubai’s airspace will undoubtedly experience increased traffic as UAS innovations become commonplace, the Forum allows commercial users to learn of best practice applications to implement UAS safely and legally, while benefitting a whole range of industries.”
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
FIGHT INFO
Men’s 60kg Round 1:
Ahmad Shuja Jamal (AFG) beat Krisada Takhiankliang (THA) - points
Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) beat Akram Alyminee (YEM) - retired Round 1
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Bhanu Pratap Pandit (IND) - TKO Round 1
Men’s 71kg Round 1:
Seyed Kaveh Soleyman (IRI) beat Abedel Rahman (JOR) - RSC round 3.
Amine Al Moatassime (UAE) walk over Ritiz Puri (NEP)
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Qualifier A, Muscat
(All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv)
Fixtures
Friday, February 18: 10am Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm Semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm Final
UAE squad:Ahmed Raza(captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
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
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Company%20profile%20
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
