Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Israel’s military said on Saturday that it had completed the takeover of a stretch of land that separates the Gazan cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, surrounding the former and turning it into a “buffer zone” as the army intensifies its operations in the Strip.
Israeli control of the route, known as the Morag Corridor, has raised fears that the country is planning a long-term occupation of Gaza and dividing territory in a way that gives it control over the movement of Palestinians and the distribution of aid.
At least 50,846 Palestinians have been killed and 115,729 wounded since the Gaza war began in October 2023.
Israel has captured a number of “corridors” throughout the conflict, including Netzarim, which divides the north, and Salah Al Din, which gives Israel control of the enclave’s entire border with Egypt.
The military’s statement on Saturday said it was building a road in the newly captured territory. It also said it would launch operations in Rafah, in areas previously not targeted.
Shortly after the military’s announcement, Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Gazans that “this is the final moment to remove Hamas and release the hostages and bring about an end to the war”.
“Hamas is unable to protect the residents or the territory,” he added. “Hamas leaders are hiding in tunnels with their families and in luxury hotels abroad with billions in their bank accounts and are using you as hostages.”
Mr Katz also repeated a promise that “those [Gazans] interested will also be able to voluntarily move to various countries around the world in accordance with the vision of the US president, which we are working to carry out”. He did not provide further details.
The Israeli leadership has said in recent weeks that it is seizing land to put pressure on Hamas to release Israeli hostages held in Gaza and advance ceasefire negotiations. However, there are fears over more civilian deaths from renewed fighting, as well the growing humanitarian crisis.
“All basic supplies are running out” in the Strip, Juliette Touma, the communications director at UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said this week. “It means babies, children are going to bed hungry.”
Despite the Israeli government promising that the new offensive will bring significant operational advantages and the defeat of Hamas closer, polling suggests most Israelis appear to support prioritising hostage releases over fighting Hamas.
Anger over the prolonging of the war is a key theme of persistent anti-government protests that have dogged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since he took office.
The demonstrations have also taken aim at alleged corruption, government attempts to destroy democracy and anger at the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Israelis, whose parties form a key bloc in Mr Netanyahu’s coalition, from military service.
SCORES IN BRIEF
Lahore Qalandars 186 for 4 in 19.4 overs
(Sohail 100,Phil Salt 37 not out, Bilal Irshad 30, Josh Poysden 2-26)
bt Yorkshire Vikings 184 for 5 in 20 overs
(Jonathan Tattersall 36, Harry Brook 37, Gary Ballance 33, Adam Lyth 32, Shaheen Afridi 2-36).
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Key fixtures from January 5-7
Watford v Bristol City
Liverpool v Everton
Brighton v Crystal Palace
Bournemouth v AFC Fylde or Wigan
Coventry v Stoke City
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Manchester United v Derby
Forest Green or Exeter v West Brom
Tottenham v AFC Wimbledon
Fleetwood or Hereford v Leicester City
Manchester City v Burnley
Shrewsbury v West Ham United
Wolves v Swansea City
Newcastle United v Luton Town
Fulham v Southampton
Norwich City v Chelsea
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
WISH
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
7.05pm Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
9.25pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm Underwriter
7.05pm Rayig
7.40pm Torno Subito
8.15pm Talento Puma
8.50pm Etisalat
9.25pm Gundogdu
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20synchronous%20electric%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E660hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C100Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E488km-560km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh850%2C000%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOctober%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
