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As Israel marked memorial day on Monday, Iris Weinstein Haggai said she cannot have closure despite knowing her parents were killed on October 7th.
Judi Weinstein and Gadi Haggai, killed on the outskirts of Kibbutz Nir Oz, are among 39 people to have been confirmed killed in the Hamas attack and then taken into Gaza.
“I never thought that, by Memorial Day, I wouldn’t have a grave,” their daughter told The National from her home in Singapore. “We don't even have a grave to cry on to and be together as a family … there's no closure, even though you know they're dead.”
Nir Oz, less than two kilometres from Gaza, was one of the hardest hit in the attack, with one in four people either killed or taken hostage.
“Memorial Day this year, it's not just my parents. 51 people were murdered from my kibbutz alone, ten of them are hostages. Most of my friends still have family hostage. Everybody's in pause. Basically, it's mourning a life that we once had. And it's a very lonely feeling.”
The fate of remaining hostages and the bodies of others held in the enclave overshadowed memorial day commemorations on Monday.
Families walked out of a speech given by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, while protesters disrupted a speech given by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in Tel Aviv. That protest came hours after relatives of the hostages held a silent demonstration and blocked the city’s main Ayalon motorway.
Speaking at Mount Herzl, Doris Liber, the mother of Guy Iluz, whose body is also being held in Gaza, addressed Mr Netanyahu directly.
“I don’t have a grave to go to. Return them to us,” she was quoted by the Haaretz newspaper as saying.
For almost two months, Ms Weinstein Haggai had no confirmation whether her parents were alive or dead. In November, she returned to Israel and scanned the lists of hostages to be released under a temporary ceasefire.
“I can't explain the torture. Every day we would wait for the release, sometimes it would come at 9am, sometimes it would come at 5pm. And every day I would wait to see if my mum's name was there.”
“My mum and I, we are American and Canadian. And she was 70, she had all the 'ticks' to come out.”
Her father was confirmed dead 83 days after October 7, requiring a committee to prove beyond any doubt that he was killed. Authorities also confirmed Judith was killed, and in December, the Biden administration also confirmed their deaths.
In recent weeks, Hamas has twice claimed Judi was killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza last month – a claim which her daughter firmly denies.
Audio and video footage shared with The National showed videos taken by Judi on October 7th and calls made to Israel's emergency services after her husband had been killed.
“It's hard to digest. In Judaism, we sit Shiva, where you sit for seven days and mourn the person you lost, and we can't even do that. We don't have a grave – even though you know it's just a body and the soul is not there, you still want someone to talk to.
“When you see the atrocities that are coming out of Gaza, a lot of people don't believe me. They don't believe that my parents were murdered and kidnapped. They say I'm lying.
“I saw all the horrific photos and the intelligence. She died on October 7, for sure.”
The return of remains held in Gaza are part of continuing negotiations, led by Qatar and Egypt, between Israel and Hamas: discussions that have yet to bring even a temporary reprieve for Gaza since the last truce in November.
“The fact that for seven months, the world couldn't get this resolved, is ridiculous to me. If the right people put the right amount of pressure on both sides, this could be over. But people don't care enough,” said Ms Weinstein Haggai.
“I have access to the biggest people, the largest officials, and it's all politics. Everything is about politics.”
The children of Israelis killed on October 7 have been some of the biggest proponents for a ceasefire deal in Gaza, including Maoz Inon, who has called for peace and “no revenge” in the wake of his parent's killing.
“He's amazing. He will make peace, I totally trust in him,” said Ms Weinstein Haggai.
“I hope that the hostage situation can be over with, and I can be by his side and push for that. I will do what I can – but my focus now is getting my friends out.”
At sundown, Israel will mark the end of Memorial Day and the start of Independence Day – also set to continue large-scale rallies for a hostage release deal.
The official Families Forum will hold a rally in Tel Aviv – featuring bereaved relatives and families of hostages freed and still held in Gaza – calling on the “return all the hostages for the sake of our resurrection”.
An official statement from a pro-hostage protest movement says they will hold an alternative Independence Day ceremony in Tel Aviv’s Habima Square.
“There is no independence until the government goes and the abductees return,” it said.
In southern Israel, the surviving residents of Nir Oz remain scattered across the country.
“If was only about my parents, I would be OK, right now, I would be able to continue,” said Ms Weinstein Haggai.
“Yes, I would miss them terribly every second, but I know they would tell me 'it's fine, we would have died anyway someday … we lived the best life we could. I would be OK. But it's not just them. It's my whole community.”
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Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68
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LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Levante v Real Mallorca (12am)
Leganes v Barcelona (4pm)
Real Betis v Valencia (7pm)
Granada v Atletico Madrid (9.30pm)
Sunday
Real Madrid v Real Sociedad (12am)
Espanyol v Getafe (3pm)
Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao (5pm)
Eibar v Alaves (7pm)
Villarreal v Celta Vigo (9.30pm)
Monday
Real Valladolid v Sevilla (12am)
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World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km
Price: from Dh547,600
On sale: now
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
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
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The%20specs
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Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
