Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Emirati surgeon Dr Hamed Al Ahmad refused to let the constant threat of air strikes in Rafah deter him from doing his "national duty" in Gaza.
"I've treated many patients as bombs were being dropped in Rafah," Dr Hamed Al Ahmad said, recounting how Israeli attacks had intensified during the 103 days he worked at the UAE field hospital, which is located in the southern city of Rafah.
While working in a war zone, the challenge is to remain emotionally detached, the 46-year-old oral and maxillofacial surgeon told The National.
"You have to focus only on your patient's treatment and do the best you can in the dire situation," said Dr Al Ahmad.
"If you got emotional, then it would be very difficult to go on."
Despite the limitations of a field hospital in a war zone, Dr Al Ahmad has completed life-changing facial reconstruction for many Gazans.
"Usually, facial reconstruction cannot be done in the field hospital, but I did it," he said. None of his patients developed any subsequent infections, he added.
Most were treated for "broken bones, head and nerve injuries, and brain bleeding".
After his time at Rafah field hospital, set up as part of the UAE's Gallant Knight 3 operation to treat Palestinians injured in the conflict, Dr Al Ahmad has been stationed at the UAE’s floating hospital in the Egyptian city of Al Arish. He has been there since May 23.
Life in a war zone hospital
Apart from the heart-rending condition of his patients, the relentless bombing left Dr Al Ahmad sleep-deprived at nights.
"We used to sleep only for a few hours because of the loud explosions around us," he recalled. There were times he would stay up and watch the bombs going off in the distance as black smoke filled the sky, he added.
Every day he would wake up at 7am and attend a daily briefing at the hospital as they slotted the surgeries.
"After each strike, many patients, including children, would arrive and all three operation rooms would fill out," said Dr Al Ahmad.
The gratitude and resilience of his patients helped Dr Al Ahmad continue his work.
"The smile on their faces after treating them was the biggest motivation for me and my colleagues to carry on our duty," he said.
Dr Al Ahmad expressed immense pride at being able to "serve my brothers in such difficult situations".
"People were thanking the UAE for being on the ground to help them during their worst times," said Dr Al Ahmad.
Saving lives
Dr Al Ahmad, who arrived in Gaza in February, saved many lives but one particular case touched his heart.
A man had rushed his father into the emergency department after Israel bombarded their area with 16 air strikes.
"Half of Mohammed Al Jamal's face was crushed severely and his chance of survival was very low," said Dr Al Ahmad.
"When I broke the news to his son he just asked me to do what I could and said he had to go elsewhere.
"Upon more gentle questioning, the man eventually said he had to go "bury his sister"."
The news left Dr Al Ahmad shocked. "It was one of the toughest moments," he said.
Mr Al Jamal's condition stabilised and after three weeks in an intensive care unit, Dr Al Ahmad then carried out the four-hour facial reconstruction operation he needed.
"Mohammed is back to normal and can speak normally," he said.
A few days later, his son brought in his 10-year-old grandson, who had suffered a broken jaw.
"I operated on the little boy and the family couldn’t believe the results. Both survived," said Dr Al Ahmad.
The successful operations and well-stocked hospital were a result of the Emirati logistical teams in Al Arish, members of which ensured a steady supply of medicine and vital equipment.
Dr Al Ahmad is aware of the risks involved in working in a war zone, but believes it is his national duty to save lives.
"My family was scared when I told them I was going to Rafah but later they encouraged me to complete my humanitarian and national duty," he said.
He continues to treat injured Palestinians, about 50km from Rafah crossing border, at the UAE floating hospital in Al Arish.
"If they asked me to go [to Gaza] again, I would go without any hesitation," he said. "It is a humanitarian and national duty."
Watch: Onboard the UAE floating hospital
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Specs
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Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
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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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MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 1 (Carroll 82')
Leicester City 2 (Maddison 55', Tielemans 72')
Man of the match James Maddison (Leicester)
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
- Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days
- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
- Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well
- Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days
- Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates
- Manage your sleep
- People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting
- Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert
Scores
Day 2
New Zealand 153 & 56-1
Pakistan 227
New Zealand trail by 18 runs with nine wickets remaining
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Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
CREW
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The specs
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm
Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto
Price: From Dh139,995
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