Israel said on Friday it will no longer observe a daily "tactical pause" to allow aid into Gaza city, as it steps up pressure for Palestinians to leave.
Gaza city is now a "dangerous combat zone", the Israeli military said, as its troops mount a new offensive to capture the area. Funerals were being held for Palestinians killed in overnight strikes on the city.
The Israeli army said it had recovered the bodies of two hostages, with only a few dozen believed to remain in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is stalling on a ceasefire proposal by Egypt and Qatar that would see some captives released.
The Gaza city neighbourhoods of Al Zeitoun, Al Sabra and Abu Iskandar are among those enduring some of their heaviest shelling yet. "The bombardment and demolitions never stop, and drones constantly fire at us with bullets, smoke bombs, and shell," said Ibrahim Abu Sultan, 35, from Abu Iskandar.
Under massive pressure to ease Gaza's famine, Israel last month announced a 10-hour "tactical pause" would be held daily in Gaza city, Deir Al Balah and Al Mawasi, where there were no major Israeli offensives at the time.
The UN-backed experts who declared a famine said the increase in aid entering Gaza has been modest and "largely insufficient" to ease the crisis. They said many people in Gaza city were scavenging in piles of rubbish for food.
Now, as of Friday "the local tactical pause in military activity will not apply to the area of Gaza city, which constitutes a dangerous combat zone," the Israeli military said.
It said the army "will continue to support humanitarian efforts alongside continuing manoeuvring and offensive operations" against Israel's enemies.
The chief of Israel's military, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, said troops were "enhancing strikes in the Gaza city area" and will "intensify our efforts in the coming weeks", hinting at a prolonged campaign to take the city.
Hamas warned that Israel's offensive would subject hostages to the "same risks" as the militants. "They will be with our fighters in the combat and confrontation zones," said Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas's armed wing.
Israel has ramped up pressure on Gaza city's residents by calling for an "evacuation" and claiming conditions will be better in the south. Palestinians and Arab governments have raised fears that Israel will try to displace Gaza's population for good.
"Many families have fled, but like mine, some remain because we have nowhere to go," Mr Abu Sultan told The National. "Every hour the military pressure increases. This is not just about Abu Iskandar any more, this is the beginning of the occupation of Gaza city."
UN aid agency UNRWA warned on Friday that an intensified Israeli attack on Gaza city would put a million people at risk of being displaced again. "With famine already confirmed in the area, any further escalation would deepen suffering and push more people towards catastrophe," it said.
Although many Palestinians are defiant about not moving south, some have had to relocate within Gaza city. "We lived under unbearable pressure for days, every hour brought massive, devastating strikes," said Marwan Hamed, 41, from the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood.
"I took my children to Beach camp in the West of Gaza city, because going south isn’t an option. We already tried that once, and it was too harsh to endure again. This time, I just wanted a place slightly safer for my children," he said.
Israel's attack on Gaza city "has already begun, no matter what they say to the world," he said. "The army has reached Abu Iskandar, which marks Gaza city’s boundary. That means the city is already being occupied."
Ihab Rayan, 54, also left Sheikh Radwan and went south to Deir Al Balah, where conditions were no better with landowners demanding huge rents. "We spent three days in the street searching for somewhere to stay, but there was no land to pitch a tent," he said.
“After all that exhaustion, we were forced to return to Beach Camp in Gaza city. Now my family, 26 of us lives in fear and under constant shelling. If the occupation goes forward with its plan to take Gaza, our only fate will be death.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The years Ramadan fell in May
WHEN TO GO:
September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.
WHERE TO STAY:
Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
UAE WARRIORS RESULTS
Featherweight
Azouz Anwar (EGY) beat Marcelo Pontes (BRA)
TKO round 2
Catchweight 90kg
Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) beat Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)
Split points decision
Welterweight
Gimbat Ismailov (RUS) beat Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR)
TKO round 1
Flyweight (women)
Lucie Bertaud (FRA) beat Kelig Pinson (BEL)
Unanimous points decision
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) beat Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)
TKO round 1
Catchweight 100kg
Marc Vleiger (NED) beat Mohamed Ali (EGY)
Rear neck choke round 1
Featherweight
James Bishop (NZ) beat Mark Valerio (PHI)
TKO round 2
Welterweight
Abdelghani Saber (EGY) beat Gerson Carvalho (BRA)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) beat Igor Litoshik (BLR)
Unanimous points decision
Bantamweight
Fabio Mello (BRA) beat Mark Alcoba (PHI)
Unanimous points decision
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magomedsultanov (RUS)
TKO round 1
Bantamweight
Trent Girdham (AUS) beat Jayson Margallo (PHI)
TKO round 3
Lightweight
Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) beat Roman Golovinov (UKR)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Steve Kennedy (AUS)
Submission round 2
Lightweight
Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)
TKO round 2
The years Ramadan fell in May
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
