Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Aid brought into Gaza by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) during the recent ceasefire will last for less than two weeks as supplies have been cut off completely since violence resumed, the agency’s director has told The National.
“The supply we stockpiled has been depleted to the extent that now we cannot supply bakeries any more,” Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of UNRWA, said in an interview on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in the Turkish resort city. “We have ended the last round of food distribution and what's still remaining is some food for maybe one week, 10 days, for some popular kitchens.”
Humanitarians are once again recording horrific stories of killings of Gazans since the ceasefire collapsed. With Israel preventing aid deliveries, increasing levels of hunger and the spread of infectious disease are being observed as people are forced to live in dire conditions without basics such as adequate shelter and water supplies. All of that will lead to more people dying, Mr Lazzarini said.
“We have started to have stories of people telling us that, ‘please, we want to die. We want to die with our families because it has become absolutely unbearable.’”
More than 1,500 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since the ceasefire collapsed, the strip's health authorities have said. The overall number killed since the war began, prompted by Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has surpassed 50,900.
The increase in what Israel has described as “military zones” in the Palestinian enclave has uprooted residents time and time again, and squeezed them into increasingly small areas in search of elusive safety.
Gazans have been moved around “like pinballs” under constant displacement orders by Israeli authorities, Mr Lazzarini said. “We have seen also that the areas where Palestinians are allowed to go have shrunk because of the military zone,” he added.
On Saturday, Israel’s military said it completed the takeover of a stretch of land that separates the cities of Rafah and Khan Younis in the south of the strip, surrounding the former and turning it into a “buffer zone”.
The Israeli-controlled route has raised fears among Palestinians of a long-term occupation of Gaza and division of the territory in a way that gives Israel control over the movement of Palestinians and the distribution of aid.
The ceasefire, which came into force in January but collapsed last month, had allowed aid workers to bring in 600 to 800 lorries of supplies a day. The brief pause in hostilities proved that relief could reach people in need if there was political will, the UNRWA chief said.
“During the period of the ceasefire, we brought more supply to Gaza than during the 15 months preceding the ceasefire,” Mr Lazzarini said. “That was an indication that if there is a will, we can make it happen.”
Everybody has realised the scope of the suffering, and the scope or the severity of the violation, but they come at no price. There is no accountability. There is total impunity prevailing
Philippe Lazzarini,
UNRWA commissioner general
Since the ceasefire broke down in March, Gaza has been “completely sealed off”, he said, in an attempt by Israel to pressure Hamas and turn the population against the militant group.
“The humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip is currently weaponised,” Mr Lazzarini said.
International humanitarian law requires that an occupying power supply aid to the population. The global community, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN, sees Israel as the occupying power in Gaza, although the country refutes this.
UN member states need to add action to words of condemnation to change the status quo, Mr Lazzarini said.
“Everybody has realised the scope of the suffering, and the scope or the severity of the violation, but they come at no price,” he said. “There is no accountability. There is total impunity prevailing. And as long as this will be the case, I don't see how things can be reversed.”
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres last week repeated his call for a renewed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and the release of all hostages still being held by militant groups inside the enclave.
Beyond Gaza, recent Israeli legislation that essentially prevents UNRWA from working in territory under the country's control has made delivery of services, such as education and health care, increasingly difficult.
Last week, Israeli security forces raided six UNRWA-run schools in occupied East Jerusalem, ordering them to shut within 30 days. The closures would mean 800 pupils being forced to abruptly halt learning before the end of their school year. It remains unclear where else they could attend classes.
“That's a question we should ask the [Israeli Jerusalem] municipality or to those who have issued this order,” Mr Lazzarini said. “I am not aware of any alternative that they are offering. Such an order can only disrupt the education of these children, who are already members of one of the most vulnerable and destitute, underprivileged communities in East Jerusalem.”
UNRWA does not work exclusively in Gaza, East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. It also provides for Palestinian refugee communities in Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria, where it serves about 430,000 people in 12 refugee camps.
Mr Lazzarini said the agency’s work in Syria had not changed since the fall of the regime of former Syrian president Bashar Al Assad in December and the rise of new authorities led by transitional President Ahmad Al Shara, also head of former Al Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir Al Sham.
“I would say the impact on our ability to operate and on our services has been minimal,” Mr Lazzarini said.
As Syria forms new state institutions across communities atomised over more than 13 years of conflict, and its new authorities come under international pressure to ensure representation of the country’s rich ethnic and religious diversity, Mr Lazzarini said its Palestinian population should also be included.
“You have an important minority called the Palestinian refugees,” he said. “We will have to make sure that they remain socio-economically included in Syria.”
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Date of birth: 27 May, 1995
Place of birth: Dubai, UAE
Status: Single
School: Al Ittihad private school in Al Mamzar
University: University of Sharjah
Degree: Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Hobby: I enjoy travelling a lot, not just for fun, but I like to cross things off my bucket list and the map and do something there like a 'green project'.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
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
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
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FIGHT CARD
Welterweight Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Tohir Zhuraev (TJK)
Catchweight 75kg Leandro Martins (BRA) v Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Flyweight Corinne Laframboise (CAN) v Manon Fiorot (FRA)
Featherweight Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB)
Lightweight Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) v Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG)
Featherweight Yousef Al Housani (UAE) v Mohamed Arsharq Ali (SLA)
Catchweight 69kg Jung Han-gook (KOR) v Elias Boudegzdame (ALG)
Catchweight 71kg Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) v Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
Featherweight title Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
Lightweight title Bruno Machado (BRA) v Mike Santiago (USA)
Profile Idealz
Company: Idealz
Founded: January 2018
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Size: (employees): 22
Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)
The lowdown
Bohemian Rhapsody
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Rating: 3/5
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Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Fixture
Friday, March 29, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, The Sevens, Dubai
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Match statistics
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 36 Bahrain 32
Harlequins
Tries: Penalty 2, Stevenson, Teasdale, Semple
Cons: Stevenson 2
Pens: Stevenson
Bahrain
Tries: Wallace 2, Heath, Evans, Behan
Cons: Radley 2
Pen: Radley
Man of the match: Craig Nutt (Harlequins)
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
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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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
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
New schools in Dubai
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 6 Huddersfield Town 1
Man City: Agüero (25', 35', 75'), Jesus (31'), Silva (48'), Kongolo (84' og)
Huddersfield: Stankovic (43')
if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
