Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Palestinians in the UAE are hopeful for an end to the war at home following the announcement of a 42-day ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. However, they say the damage done will take a lifetime to repair.
The deal, which would bring a pause to 15 months of fighting in Gaza from January 19, would see the release of hostages, meaning hope for an end to a war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, destroyed the territory and threatened to start a wider regional conflict.
“I have been waiting for this moment," Fathi Abu Seedo, 62, a Palestinian who has lived in the UAE for more than four decades, told The National. "Every second of the wait felt like a lifetime of fear and anticipation.”
Mr Seedo, who works in Dubai, said a ceasefire would be a lifeline for his children – aged between 16 and 34 – who had to move back to Gaza in 2021 due to financial difficulties. "I feel like I've got my life back," he said. His daughters messaged him from Gaza as soon as the ceasefire was announced. "They sent me WhatsApp voice messages saying people all around were happy – they could hear loud cheers on the streets and drivers honking car horns."
Last-minute setback
The ceasefire deal, announced on Wednesday night, remains tentative after the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of creating a “last-minute crisis”.
“Hamas is backing out of the explicit understandings agreed upon with the mediators and Israel in a last-minute blackmail attempt,” the official statement said.
Palestinian Fidaa Alloh, 40, and her mother, were in tears when the ceasefire deal was initially announced, and immediately offered their gratitude in prayers. “For my mother, who is here with me, a ceasefire offers a small sense of comfort, knowing that her loved ones may no longer have to live in constant fear of bombings," she said
"This means my family in Gaza can finally have a moment to breathe, to find safety, and to begin healing from the unimaginable devastation they've endured. It brings a glimmer of hope."
Hopes for displaced Gazans
Mahmoud Ahmed Al Shaer, who works at the UAE aid stores in Egypt’s Al Arish after fleeing the war last January, was lost for words. “I don’t know how to describe the joy I’m feeling," he said, adding that he plans to "go back when the border opens".
"Israel invaded our land, but we won’t leave Gaza,” he added.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Ahmed Sourani, 58, founder and coordinator of the Gaza Urban and Peri-urban Agricultural Platform, said he hopes to go back and rebuild his homeland.
He crossed the Rafah border to Egypt and flew via air to Dubai in December 2023 to receive the award of the Zayed Sustainability Prize.
“We will go back to Gaza to be part of reconstruction. I couldn’t go back to my city or family and stayed in Abu Dhabi. It was difficult year with many challenges, but I kept open channels with my colleagues and the platform. I wish peace spread and be among my family and people again,” Mr Sourani said.
“Being separated from my family in Gaza was very painful but staying here was a chance to develop the work in Gaza.”
Tough road ahead
However, there are mixed emotions among Palestinians as they are daunted by the challenges of rebuilding their lives and homes. "I'm grateful [if] it has happened but now begins another kind of struggle. So many homes are destroyed, people are exhausted and grieving as thousands have lost loved ones and many are still searching for bodies beneath the rubble," said Mr Seedo.
“Gaza’s wounds will take a lifetime to heal."
Even for Ms Alloh and her family, the pain runs deep. "We've lost so many – more than 200 members of my family are gone – and the scars left behind, both physical and emotional, will never fully heal.
"While a ceasefire may pause the violence, it does not erase the pain of what has been lost or the injustice we have suffered.
"I can only pray that this is the start of lasting peace and that one day, my family and every family in Gaza can rebuild their lives with dignity, safety, and hope for a better future."
Mr Al Shaer said returning to Khan Younis will be tough. “It will be sad to see what our families and friends have lost in the conflict. It will be sad to see our homes and shops destroyed.
“This war is a tragedy that nobody can imagine."
Mr Al Shaer is, however, confident of rebuilding his apartment that was “turned into a pile of rubble” during an Israeli air strike. “I will build my home again and restore my shop to prove that whatever happens to us we will be back stronger.
“In previous conflicts, Israel destroyed our farms and houses, but we restored our homes. This is our life, and this is our destiny.”
Khalid Al Sabi, a Palestinian expat in Dubai, remained sceptical about whether the deal will hold, and questioned if the world will stay focused on saving lives and rebuilding the city.
“The genocide will still go on at least until Sunday, the suffering will still go on even after the ceasefire because we have a destroyed city, over 100,000 injured with a countless number of people who have lost limbs and eyes.
“We have kids who didn’t go to school for a year-and-a-half, there is no infrastructure to go back to school, we don’t have hospitals,” said the 37-year-old, who was born in the UAE after his parents moved to Dubai from the West Bank.
“A ceasefire is only the first step to ending suffering.”
Reports of intensified attacks on Wednesday night reinforced this fear. "Just last night, I was on a call with my aunt who lives in Al Daraj neighbourhood and we could hear the explosions in the background. She said the bombings were worse than ever.”
Mr Seedo also struggled to reach his family after hearing reports that a house near his family home was bombed, leaving three families dead. "When I finally got through to my family after a dozen attempts, I could sense the fear in their voices."
US tops drug cost charts
The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.
Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.
In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.
Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol.
The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.
High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
MATCH SCHEDULE
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tuesday, April 24 (10.45pm)
Liverpool v Roma
Wednesday, April 25
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (10.45pm)
Europa League semi-final, first leg
Thursday, April 26
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid (11.05pm)
Marseille v Salzburg (11.05pm)
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Lexus LX700h specs
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Fixtures (6pm UAE unless stated)
Saturday Bournemouth v Leicester City, Chelsea v Manchester City (8.30pm), Huddersfield v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm), Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Stoke City v Southampton, West Bromwich Albion v Watford, West Ham United v Swansea City
Sunday Arsenal v Brighton (3pm), Everton v Burnley (5.15pm), Newcastle United v Liverpool (6.30pm)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
Results
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Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
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Results:
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1.400m | Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Saab, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,600m | Winner: Majd Al Gharbia, Saif Al Balushi, Ridha ben Attia
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed Dh 180,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Money To Burn, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh 70,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Kafu, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 2,400m | Winner: Brass Ring, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
