Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Fully funded plans to give Palestinian children injured in Gaza life-saving treatment in the UK were shown to Prime Minister Keir Starmer this week, with calls for his government to lift visa restrictions.
Mr Starmer met British-Palestinian families at his residence in Downing Street. Many of those at the talks had relatives who had been killed or displaced in Gaza. Among their demands was for the UK government to enable children injured in Gaza to enter the UK to receive specialist hospital treatment. This includes complex treatments for head injuries or rehabilitation for lost limbs.
The community told Mr Starmer they had raised funds that would pay for the children's evacuation, travel and private treatment in the UK, alongside other costs. But the uncertain and lengthy nature of the UK’s visa application process was an obstacle, said Dr Nehad Khanfar, head of the Association of the Palestinian Community in the UK, who attended the meeting.
“We told the Prime Minister that the Palestinian community was happy to provide logistical support. What we need is for the kids to come over and that’s it,” he said.
While other European and Arab countries have taken children and adults for emergency treatment from Gaza, the UK has yet to do so.
Great Ormond Street Hospital launched UK Reachback this year, with specialists having volunteered to offer phone support to clinicians caring for children who have been victims of the conflict, in Gaza and Israel. Experts from the UK also advise the UAE's Emirates Field Hospital in Rafah through calls every two weeks.
The families asked for “any scheme” that could allow children from Gaza to come to the UK at short notice. “We want the government to take serious steps towards this. It is purely about the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza. It will not be politicised later on,” Dr Khanfar said.
This was the Prime Minister’s first meeting with the Palestinian community in the UK – having met the families of Israeli hostages in the run-up to the October 7 commemorations this month. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer were also present.
This was a difficult encounter for British Palestinians, who feel “let down” by the UK government’s support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. “We had a tough and frank discussion,” said Dr Khanfar, adding that Mr Starmer “looked surprised” when he was confronted by the families who attended.
Members of the group received devastating news from relatives in north Gaza, which is currently under Israeli siege, just minutes before they walked into No 10. Among those who attended was Khitam Atallah, who lost 48 members of her family in the war, including her mother, three brothers and their children.
The Labour Party said it would be guided by international law in its approach to the conflict, and took measures to curb its support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. But it has been criticised for its support for Israel’s war, and its continued delays to recognising Palestine as a state.
The families also discussed the need for a visa scheme that would allow British-Palestinians to bring relatives displaced in Gaza or in neighbouring countries to the UK. “A lot of family members are being left on their own, without any options. This is mainly mothers, who are elderly, displaced and have no one around them,” Dr Khanfar said.
He said this included an elderly mother who fled Gaza and was now living in Turkey, away from her family in the UK. Palestinians must apply for a visa to enter the UK, and campaigners have pointed to the Ukraine Family Visa Scheme, which gave immediate family members caught up in the war in Ukraine fast-tracked access to the UK.
“We offered our help again to get this without public funds,” he said. “The only thing holding us back is the government bureaucracy. [If] the government does nothing to ease the procedures, the meeting will be worth nothing."
The Palestinian community told the Prime Minister of the escalating situation in the occupied West Bank, and the need to impose more wider-reaching sanctions on the companies that trade with illegal settlement projects there.
They also renewed calls for a complete embargo on arms sales to Israel, including the sale of components to the US’s F-35 programme, whose fighter jets are then sold on to Israel. “We made it clear to the Prime Minister that parts of the F-35 were killing people in Jabalia as we speak,” Dr Khanfar added.
Palestinian ambassador Dr Husam Zomlot said the meeting was a “step” towards Britain’s recognition of its historical role in the Palestine-Israel conflict.
“The meeting constitutes another step towards Britain’s recognition of the importance of the Palestinian component in British society, and the historical sin against the Palestinian people and the recognition of their right to self-determination and the defence of their legitimate rights,” Dr Zomlot said in a social media post.
Mr Starmer said he was “humbled” by the Palestinian families’ “immeasurable grief”. “This horrific suffering must end, there must be an immediate ceasefire, and Israel must let unrestricted aid into Gaza now,” he wrote on social media after the meeting.
According to Dr Khanfar, Mr Starmer “showed a lot of sympathy” and promised that Ms Rayner, who serves as Minister of Communities, would “investigate” the possibility of “having a series of meetings to design a mechanism for a follow-up”.
But he declined to be pinned down on whether or not he thought the meeting was a success. “We’re waiting to hear about the next steps, it’s all about how they will follow up,” he said.
Under-21 European Championship Final
Germany 1 Spain 0
Weiser (40')
The biog
Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT)
Tuesday
Mairobr v Liverpool
Spartak Moscow v Sevilla
Feyenoord v Shakhtar Donetsk
Manchester City v Napoli
Monaco v Besiktas
RB Leipzig v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur
Wednesday
Benfica v Manchester United
CSKA Moscow v Basel
Bayern Munich v Celtic
Anderlecht v Paris Saint-Germain
Qarabag v Atletico Madrid
Chelsea v Roma
Barcelona v Olympiakos
Juventus v Sporting Lisbon
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
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- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
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Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Day 1 at Mount Maunganui
England 241-4
Denly 74, Stokes 67 not out, De Grandhomme 2-28
New Zealand
Yet to bat
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
Ireland (15-1):
Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour
Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
