Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Jerusalem is on “high alert”, with heightened security measures in place amid fears of violent unrest after Israeli-Palestinian tension escalated into a full-scale war over the past week.
Israel's military on Friday ordered 1.1 million residents of the Gaza Strip's northern region to relocate to the south of the Palestinian enclave within 24 hours.
The order is seen as a prelude to a ground invasion into the Hamas-controlled territory.
Security measures in Jerusalem were further reinforced before Friday prayers after Hamas called for mobilisation at Al Aqsa mosque, urging Arab citizens to attack Israeli forces in Jerusalem, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, the city's deputy mayor, told The National.
“They are encouraging individuals to target security installations and security personnel, which has raised considerable concern,” she said.
Al Aqsa Mosque compound, a site holy to Muslims, Jews and Christians, has historically been a focal point for violence whenever Israeli-Palestinian tension flares up.
Ms Nahoum said there was a “quiet tension” among Jerusalem’s Arab and Israeli populations after the Hamas attack on Israel last Saturday and the ensuing bombing of Gaza by Israeli forces.
“We know Hamas has sleeper cells and they will activate them, and we know which communities they reside in. We are on alert,” she said.
“But majority of the Arabs are peaceful citizens who want to just do their day’s work and go home, just like us.”
On Thursday night, a man with a sub-machinegun opened fire on the entrance of Shalem Police Station in Jerusalem's Old City. Two police officers were wounded in the attack before the gunman was killed.
“We are used to this – both Arabs and Jews in the area. This is the sixth Gaza war. And people know how to not take it too personal and go about their day-to-day activities. We both want peaceful coexistence,” said Ms Nahoum.
'We want peace'
For the Arab residents of Jerusalem, the Gaza conflict is a flashpoint for communal tension. Arabs represent slightly more than 20 per cent of Israel’s population, and many living outside of Jerusalem have Israeli citizenship.
Waleed Abu Tayah, 68, an Arab citizen of Israel who was running for mayor in the recently postponed Jerusalem local elections, told The National that people were worried the conflict would spill over into the streets.
“We are scared and staying indoors. It is a very difficult moment for the community.”
“This fighting and bloodshed is not a solution to the problem. We have to decide what we want,” said Mr Abu Tayah, who has lived in Jerusalem for the past 44 years.
He said if Europe could find peace after long years of war, the Middle East could, as well.
“We have to stop this war and the bombing. Israel should release Palestinian prisoners and Hamas has to release the hostages. A peace settlement has to be reached so that this suffering will end forever.”
He said he wanted to contest the mayoral election to end the Arab boycott of political processes in the country.
“We have the right of self determination, according to the International convention on civil and political rights,” he said.
“Arabs pay all the taxes but they do not have civil rights. I want to uplift the Arab community out of poverty and economic disparity. They occupy our land. There cannot be justice under occupation. The status quo has to change.”
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
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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
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
AIR
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on Quran memorisation:
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Remaining fixtures
- August 29 – UAE v Saudi Arabia, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
- September 5 – Iraq v UAE, Amman, Jordan (venue TBC)
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
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
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
