As the war in Gaza enters its 22nd month, life in the enclave is a daily struggle not only for survival, but also for dignity in death. With bombardment, displacement and a lack of basic essentials, Palestinians are further anguish due to a shortage of graves.
Scarce construction materials, restricted access or destruction of graveyards by the Israeli military, as well as the mounting number of bodies, have prompted Palestinians to improvise novel and desperate ways to lay their loved ones to rest, sometimes on top of each other.
Cement, stone and tiles are in short supply and cemeteries are overwhelmed. Many families have taken to burying bodies in their gardens at home, on school grounds or in public spaces, often in hastily dug sandpits without proper grave coverings or protection.
“It’s one of the most painful things in war, to not be able to provide even a grave for your loved ones,” said Sufyan Al Shurabji, 56, a resident of the Shujaiya neighbourhood who lost his nephew Muadh and family in an Israeli air strike on Gaza city.
Due to the inflated cost of a resting place, he had no option but to bury all five in one grave, stacked on top of each other. “Instead of mourning the martyr, you’re overwhelmed by the challenge of finding a grave, a cemetery, a final place of rest," he added.
He had been told a single grave would cost 1,100 shekels ($330) in cash. “That meant we needed about 5,000 shekels just to bury them properly,” Mr Sufyan said. “But in this war, people are penniless. We searched for free graves through charitable initiatives but everything had run out.
Israeli missile destroys popular beach cafe on Gaza city seafront
“We usually bury our dead in the family cemetery in Shujaiya but it’s now inaccessible due to the presence of occupation forces. We were forced to bury them in a new cemetery in western Gaza.”
An official from Gaza's Ministry of Endowments told The National that the shortage stems from a lack of construction materials due to strict controls on imports by Israel. Without these materials, families are unable to bury their loved ones in accordance with Islamic rites.
“Since the beginning of the war, the occupation has targeted cemeteries, completely or partially destroying about 40 across various areas of the Gaza Strip,” the official said. “In addition, access to many cemeteries within military-controlled zones is blocked.”
Refuge in burial sites
Some Palestinians displaced from their homes have sought refuge in burial sites, setting up tents inside or near cemeteries, further reducing burial space, the ministry added.
Authorities have been working with volunteers to address the crisis by constructing makeshift graves, using mud and reclaimed stone from bombed-out homes. Zinc sheets are being used instead of traditional tiles to cover the graves. But these efforts are inadequate.
“The crisis is escalating due to the extreme shortage and inflated cost of materials,” the ministry official said. "Preparing a single grave now costs between 700 and 1,000 shekels, an unbearable expense for families already devastated by war.
“Currently, we have no ready graves available for burying martyrs. Many are forced to lay their loved ones in open pits, exposing bodies to the risk of being disturbed by stray animals.”
The ministry recently issued an urgent appeal to Arab and Islamic nations, as well as charities to support its campaign called Ikram, or Dignity, an initiative to build more burial sites.
Hani Abu Mousa, a humanitarian worker in southern Gaza, said his team usually focused on delivering food and water in the enclave. But in recent weeks, their efforts have shifted.
“We’ve been receiving increasing pleas from families asking for help securing graves for their loved ones,” he told The National. “Initially, we responded by providing graves on land allocated by the Ministry of Endowments in western Khan Younis. But those filled quickly as the number of martyrs grows daily.”
Efforts to construct more graves have been thwarted by shortages of materials, he added. Volunteers have resorted to using makeshift alternatives including zinc sheets, wood and iron to cover bodies and protect them from animals.
“It’s heart-breaking," Mr Abu Mousa said. "Even in death, there’s no peace here.”
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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FIGHT CARD
Bantamweight Hamza Bougamza (MAR) v Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Catchweight 67kg Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) v Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lighweight Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) v Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg Mostafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) v Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) v Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78kg Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight Sallaheddine Dekhissi (MAR) v Abdel Emam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg Rachid Hazoume (MAR) v Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG)
Lighweight Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg Omar Hussein (PAL) v Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
Middleweight Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Sonchiriya
Director: Abhishek Chaubey
Producer: RSVP Movies, Azure Entertainment
Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Manoj Bajpayee, Ashutosh Rana, Bhumi Pednekar, Ranvir Shorey
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Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
More on Quran memorisation:
Company profile
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FIGHT CARD
From 5.30pm in the following order:
Featherweight
Marcelo Pontes (BRA) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 90kg
Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) v Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)
Welterweight
Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR) v Gimbat Ismailov (RUS)
Flyweight (women)
Lucie Bertaud (FRA) v Kelig Pinson (BEL)
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (BEL) v Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)
Catchweight 100kg
Mohamed Ali (EGY) v Marc Vleiger (NED)
Featherweight
James Bishop (AUS) v Mark Valerio (PHI)
Welterweight
Gerson Carvalho (BRA) v Abdelghani Saber (EGY)
Middleweight
Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) v Igor Litoshik (BLR)
Bantamweight:
Fabio Mello (BRA) v Mark Alcoba (PHI)
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magemedsultanov (RUS)
Bantamweight
Trent Girdham (AUS) v Jayson Margallo (PHI)
Lightweight
Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) v Roman Golovinov (UKR)
Middleweight
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Steve Kennedy (AUS)
Lightweight
Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)
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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
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- 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
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
