Quite often, a bad situation can be made worse. When it comes to a situation as extreme and as volatile as what’s happening in Palestine and Israel, the ceiling for any potential catastrophe is particularly high.
Although there has been no let-up in the Israeli air strikes that have claimed thousands of Palestinian lives so far – overnight bombing raids on Gaza killed more than 100 people on Monday alone – the continuing threat of a ground invasion by Israeli troops hangs over the heads of the blockaded enclave’s 2.3 million people. The likely consequences of such an operation for Gazan civilians are grim, but things are far from clear cut for Israel. There are many humanitarian, political and strategic reasons why a full-scale ground war should be avoided, and it is not just critics of Israel who are urging caution.
White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that although Israel's army and political leadership would make the final decision on the timing and scope of any invasion, the US was “talking to them about all the kinds of consequences, second and third-order effects, that come from making decisions on the battlefield and what that means”.
US President Joe Biden was more direct when he said that a reoccupation of Gaza by Israel would be “a big mistake”. Although there appears to be little appetite right now among the Israeli military for taking and holding territory in Gaza, the October 7 attack by Hamas, during which it killed more than 1,400 Israelis – mostly civilians – has ushered in a new paradigm, and nothing can be taken for granted any more.
Israel has mobilised more than 300,000 troops and reservists. And although many Israelis back a ground war, the near-certainty of more Israeli casualties could eat into that support, particularly given the way in which the massive protests that rocked Israeli cities before the current conflict revealed a public deeply unhappy with its current political leadership. This is to say nothing of the economic impact of calling up so many reservists for weeks – or potentially months.
There is also the uncertain fate of more than 200 Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas militants. Their safety amid powerful Israeli air strikes is already in doubt but the consequences of a major ground incursion for them cannot be predicted. The families of some hostages have been pleading with the Israeli government to pause and allow more time for negotiations. This call may grow louder if Hamas continues to release handfuls of Israeli civilians.
In addition, Gaza is not the only front in this conflict and the sight of Israeli troops and armour crossing into the beleaguered territory could be the trigger for Hezbollah to step up its attacks in the north. The effects of a ground invasion on other regional enemies of Israeli can only be guessed at but it is safe to assume that it would only add to the volatility.
Neither is there any guarantee that an operation involving brutal street and tunnel fighting will either restore Israel’s military deterrence or destroy Hamas. Even former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon – a security hawk – saw the strategic inadvisability of trying to pacify Gaza militarily, and unilaterally pulled Israeli troops and settlers out in 2005.
Israeli troops have already spent decades occupying the West Bank, and the consequences there have been more or less continual instability and insecurity, which created the need for a permanent military presence. Sending large numbers of soldiers into somewhere like Gaza is one thing – getting them out again is another.
Israel’s political and military leadership will make its own decision, but the country is still reeling from an unprecedented loss of life at the hands of Hamas. There has been no shortage of high-level diplomatic visits to Israel to express support and solidarity – French President Emmanuel Macron was in the country yesterday. Those who have influence with Israel’s leadership would do well to outline the potential for even more disaster that a full-scale invasion of Gaza could bring.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
Past winners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2016 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2014 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2012 Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2011 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2010 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2009 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Read more from Kareem Shaheen
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
The line up
Friday: Giggs, Sho Madjozi and Masego
Saturday: Nas, Lion Bbae, Roxanne Shante and DaniLeigh
Sole DXB runs from December 6 to 8 at Dubai Design District. Weekend pass is Dh295 while a one day pass is Dh195. Tickets are available from www.soledxb.com
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 1 Manchester City 2
Huddersfield: Otamendi (45' 1 og), van La Parra (red card 90' 6)
Man City: Agüero (47' pen), Sterling (84')
Man of the match: Christopher Schindler (Huddersfield Town)
Calls
Directed by: Fede Alvarez
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Karen Gillian, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
4/5
Specs
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The years Ramadan fell in May
More on Quran memorisation:
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 1050Nm
Range: 450km
Price: Dh601,800
On sale: now
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
