Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
The war in Gaza must stop, the UN Secretary General has told The National, warning of the risks of the conflict proliferating across the region.
“We are seeing a horrible situation in Gaza, with the unprecedented number of people killed and level of destruction that never existed in my mandate as the Secretary General,” said Antonio Guterres, referring to the aftermath of Hamas's October 7 attacks and the suffering of people in the enclave.
In an in-depth interview in New York, Mr Guterres warned that “we are seeing the risks of this conflict spreading to Lebanon, to other parts of the Middle East”.
“We must absolutely avoid a situation which we will have in Lebanon, a situation of deaths and destruction similar to the one that we have in Gaza,” he said.
Settlements are illegal. Grabbing of land is illegal. What we have is a massive violation of international law that needs to stop
Antonio Guterres
On October 7, Hamas fighters infiltrated southern Israel, and killed about 1,200 people, according to Israeli authorities. In response, Israel began a military operation to destroy Hamas, which has been in power in Gaza since 2007. Its land and air offensive has killed more than 41,200 people so far, according to the enclave's health authorities.
As the war approaches its anniversary and ceasefire talks overseen by the US, Egypt and Qatar remain deadlocked, Mr Guterres expressed hope for a “complete ceasefire”.
When asked if the UN is failing in its peace mandate as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government continues to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank in defiance of international law, the UN chief responded sharply, saying: “It is not the UN that fails.
“What we see is a constant violation of international law. Settlements are illegal. Grabbing of land is illegal. The International Court of Justice has said that the occupation itself is illegal, and what we have is a massive violation of international law that needs to stop.”
Mr Guterres acknowledged the UN's limited ability to enforce these laws: “Unfortunately, the UN does not have the capacity to make it stop." But, he said: “Our voice will remain clear and loud in defence of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.
“International humanitarian law must be respected, and the protection of civilians is essential. So, the fact that Hamas might violate international humanitarian law does not give any excuse for Israel to do the same."
Despite the conflict and high regional tensions, Mr Guterres said that “hope is the last thing we should lose”.
“Negotiations are going on and … problems that exist are relatively minor if there is political will to solve them.”
He urged all parties involved to demonstrate the political will necessary to end the conflict. “My appeal is for the parties to show, finally, political will to put an end to this horrible tragedy,” Mr Guterres said.
He said it was “absolutely essential” that Israel recognises that whatever has happened in Gaza, there needs to be a solution wherein Israelis and Palestinians can live together side by side in peace and security.
“There is no alternative to the two-state solution,” he said. “Can you imagine a one-state solution in which millions of Palestinians would live without any rights, victims of discrimination in a way that it would be totally unacceptable in present times?”
Mr Netanyahu has not returned the Secretary General’s calls since October, leaving Mr Guterres with little hope for a breakthrough during the General Assembly's High Level Week, set to begin on Sunday.
Mr Guterres said the attacks made by Mr Netanyahu and his government against the UN and its head “are unfair and meaningless”.
On Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi attacks on shipping in support of Hamas, he said the “escalation is also something that should stop”.
“We are having the situation of violation of the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea that's having a very negative impact in the global economy, and particularly in the economy of the countries of the region. And the freedom of navigation is an absolutely essential principle,” he said.
Six UNRWA staff among 18 killed in Israeli bombing of Gaza school
Mr Guterres will also call for an end to Sudan's devastating conflict and for unrestricted humanitarian aid during talks with Sudanese military leader Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan at the High Level Talks next week.
The war, which erupted in April last year after rising tension between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has plunged the nation of 50 million into crisis. More than half of the population now faces acute hunger.
The UN chief said he would make a “strong appeal” to end of the war and call for “humanitarian aid to be freely distributed across the country”.
“It's important that the international community mobilises in all possible forms to make these two actors understand that this war is causing a devastating impact in the people of Sudan, that this war must stop.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman
Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal
Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore
Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu, Sep 6: Final
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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CHINESE GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2nd row
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
3rd row
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing)
4th row
Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
Sergio Perez (Force India)
5th row
Carlos Sainz Jr (Renault)
Romain Grosjean (Haas)
6th row
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Esteban Ocon (Force India)
7th row
Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
8th row
Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
9th row
Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
Lance Stroll (Williams)
10th row
Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
arcus Ericsson (Sauber)
The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business
He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery
Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all
West Indies v England ODI series:
West Indies squad: Jason Holder (c), Fabian Allen, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas.
Fixtures:
1st ODI - February 20, Bridgetown
2nd ODI - February 22, Bridgetown
3rd ODI - February 25, St George's
4th ODI - February 27, St George's
5th ODI - March 2, Gros Islet
MATCH INFO
Northern Warriors 92-1 (10 ovs)
Russell 37 no, Billings 35 no
Team Abu Dhabi 93-4 (8.3 ovs)
Wright 48, Moeen 30, Green 2-22
Team Abu Dhabi win by six wickets
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
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