The leader of a well-armed Bedouin clan defying Hamas's control of the Gaza Strip has confirmed it is co-ordinating with the Israeli army in Rafah.
Yasser Abu Shabab gave an interview to the Israeli public broadcaster’s Arabic-language radio station Makan, in which he said the objective of his Popular Forces group is to face up to "injustice and corruption".
He said of his group: "As long as the goal is support and assistance [from the Israeli military] and nothing more, when we go on a mission we inform them – nothing beyond that – and we carry out the military operations.
"There will be sacrifices and blood ... we are entering this project to free the people from their [Hamas's] injustice. We will not back down on this, no matter what the blood is."
The Popular Forces operates in the east of the southern Gaza city of Rafah in an area controlled by Israeli forces, as they battle Hamas in the territory.
Asked about the prospect of a ceasefire, Mr Abu Shabab said his group would continue their operations against Hamas even if a truce were reached.
"If a truce happens, we will proceed with our work, no matter the cost or blood," he said. "We do not oblige ourselves to a truce ... this is their [Hamas] affair with the Israeli army."
The Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza has ordered Mr Abu Shabab to surrender and face trial, accusing him of treason. A ministry statement said the decision was taken by what it called a "Revolutionary Court".
It gave Mr Abu Shabab 10 days to surrender and urged Palestinians to inform Hamas security officials of his whereabouts.
The Abu Shabab group described the Hamas court's order as a "sitcom that doesn't frighten us, nor does it frighten any free man who loves his homeland and its dignity", in a post on the Facebook page that usually carried its announcements.
Hamas has accused Mr Abu Shabab and his gang of looting UN aid lorries, with Israel backing.
The European Council on Foreign Relations think tank describes Mr Abu Shabab as the leader of a "criminal gang operating in the Rafah area that is widely accused of looting aid trucks".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has admitted Israel was supporting an armed group in Gaza that opposes the militant Hamas, following comments by a former minister that Israel was supplying a gang with arms.
Knesset member and former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman had said the government, at Mr Netanyahu's direction, was "giving weapons to a group of criminals and felons".
"What did Lieberman leak?" Mr Netanyahu said at the time. "That on the advice of security officials, we activated clans in Gaza that oppose Hamas. What is bad about that? It is only good, it is saving the lives of Israeli soldiers."
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Studying addiction
This month, Dubai Medical College launched the Middle East’s first master's programme in addiction science.
Together with the Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation, the college offers a two-year master’s course as well as a one-year diploma in the same subject.
The move was announced earlier this year and is part of a new drive to combat drug abuse and increase the region’s capacity for treating drug addiction.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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