Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Daniel Shely has trained his two dogs, a shih tzu and a chihuahua, to run to the bomb shelter every time the sirens blare.
For the 35-year-old Israeli software developer, who lives in Jaffa in southern Tel Aviv, the past year has meant living in a more politicised and, he believes, less secure country.
The war and the threat of attacks feels like “a very big rock on my shoulders”, Mr Shely told The National. On the surface, life appears to be continuing as normal in Tel Aviv, a lively, cosmopolitan city that is among the most liberal places in Israel. But underneath, the city’s population is stressed, he said in the Tel Aviv offices of Standing Together, a donations-funded human rights organisation of which he is a member.
“All of us are a little bit post-traumatic – traumatic, actually,” he said, correcting himself. Things could be a lot worse, he acknowledges, pointing to the tens of thousands of Israelis who have had to leave their homes in northern Israel due to daily rocket fire from Hezbollah, or the complete destruction of homes and lives in Gaza. More than 43,100 people have been killed in the past year in the strip, Palestinian officials say.
Tel Aviv’s residents have lived with the threat of rocket fire from Gaza for a year. Following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023 and the start of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, militants in the strip launched rockets into southern and central Israel on a daily basis. As Hamas’s ability to launch rockets has been slowed by Israeli operations in the enclave, the pace of the attacks has lessened, sometimes with months-long lulls between incidents.
The city has not seen the worst-case scenario, which would involve thousands of rockets overwhelming missile defences, power cuts caused by attacks on energy infrastructure, and hospitals struggling with mass casualty events.
But there still remains the threat of rockets and larger-scale missiles from Lebanon and Iran, as well as drones, which are smaller and harder for missile defence systems to detect and shoot down. Hezbollah has launched more than 10,000 projectiles at Israel since it joined the war in support of Hamas on October 8 last year, according to the Israeli military. Most of them are shot down or land in northern Israel, but some make it further south.
“When it comes to Lebanon, it's a little bit different, because they have more sophisticated capabilities, and you never know if it's the beginning of a bigger onslaught,” said Mairav Zonszein, a senior Israel analyst for the International Crisis Group, in an interview with The National. “I think Israelis have already felt unsafe since October 7, so the Lebanese element isn't necessarily making it much greater, but it adds a layer of endlessness – 'when is this going to end?' – that type of thing.”
Iran-backed Hezbollah says it avoids civilian targets, knowing that Israel’s subsequent response to its civilians being killed or injured would be more forceful than when soldiers are killed. But locations that the group considers legitimate military targets sit amid dense civilian infrastructure and populations in cities like Tel Aviv.
“By now we can certainly say that it's not a problem of capability, and it's not a problem of willingness,” Raz Zimmt, a senior researcher at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies, told The National. “Hezbollah and Iran, but also other Iranian proxies, including the Houthis, have made it very clear that, first, they are willing to do that [launch attacks], not because they want to target civilian targets inside Israel, but because Tel Aviv is one of the centres for Israel's military as well.”
In late August, Hezbollah claimed to have targeted 11 Israeli military sites, including one near Tel Aviv, with more than 320 Katyusha rockets and drones, as a retaliation for the assassination of its senior commander Fouad Shukr.
A month later, the Iran-backed group said it had launched its first missile attack towards Tel Aviv, launching a Qadr 1 ballistic missile towards the headquarters of Israel’s intelligence service Mossad in Herzliya, just north of the city. The David’s Sling defence system shot down the projectile, without casualties or damage, the Israeli military said. In October, a Hezbollah drone attack on a military base between Tel Aviv and the city of Haifa killed four Israeli soldiers.
Yoav Gallant, Israel’s Defence Minister, claimed earlier this week that Hezbollah has only 20 per cent of its rocket and missile arsenal remaining. Israel has intensified attacks on the stockpiles since starting a ground operation in Lebanon five weeks ago. Still, over the week between October 22 to 29, Hezbollah was able to fire an average of 138 projectiles across the border every day, according to The National's calculations based on Israeli military figures.
The order of magnitude of launches is significant because of the limitations of Israel’s missile defence systems, which will fail to shoot down around 10 per cent of projectiles. The lower the number of overall projectiles, the lower the number of those that manage to penetrate the defences and hit Israel.
Tel Aviv's residents feel that the war continuing is making them less safe.
“You can see the correlation between us doing big operations, like assassinations of [Hassan] Nasrallah, and [Yahya] Sinwar, and how we are being bombed and attacked more and more, and how we lose more and more soldiers,” Mr Shely said.
Another threat to Tel Aviv is the direct confrontation between Israel and Iran. Missiles struck near the Ayalon shopping mall in north-eastern Tel Aviv during Iran’s direct attack on October 1, in which Tehran launched at least 180 cruise and ballistic missiles towards Israel in response to the assassinations of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in the region.
It was Iran's second direct attack on Israel this year: in April, it launched a large-scale missile and drone attack in response to a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy building in Damascus.
I don't feel like any war will make us safer. Only peace can bring security.
Ella Lotan,
26
The Ayalon mall was operating as usual on Wednesday this week. Shoppers milled around stores selling loungewear and sat for coffee in cafes in the central atrium. Others filled trolleys with groceries at the hypermarket attached to the shopping mall.
“I think the biggest threat right now is maybe from Iran – just based on what they did that night,” said Ms Zonszein, referring to the October 1 attack. “That night was very intense for a lot of people in Israel, and it covered almost the entire country. It put us in shelters for almost an hour. In terms of the effect on the public, that was the most potent.”
Iran will want to retaliate for Israel's response last week to the October 1 attack, which is widely believed to have taken out some of Iran's air defence systems and missile production capacity.
On the one hand, Iran wants to retaliate, and is also constrained by Israeli damage caused to its aerial defence and missile capabilities last week, the US election, and the risk of scuppering a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, which Tehran wants to see come to fruition, explained Mr Zimmt.
“I think that today, even more than in April and October, the dilemma in Iran is very painful,” he said.
Like Mr Shely, Ella Lotan, 26, feels that continuing hostilities is not the right course of action and the only way to bring long-term stability to Israelis and Palestinians is a ceasefire deal and the release of the hostages who remain held in Gaza.
“I don't feel like any war will make us more safe,” said Ms Lotan, Standing Together's coordinator at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. “Only peace can bring security,” she said in an interview with The National in Tel Aviv. She cited peace agreements with Jordan and Egypt that have kept those countries’ relations with Israel relatively stable for decades.
The Israeli government is not interested in a deal that would bring the hostages home, according to Avi Zilberstein, 61. He is one of a team of volunteers who take turns sitting at a tent in Tel Aviv to commemorate those taken from and killed at kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7, 2023. The tent is at the “Hostages Square”, an open plaza in the city that has become a memorial space for the 101 hostages still held in Gaza. The Israeli government says returning the hostages remains one of its priorities.
Mr Zilberstein comes and sits in the open space, next to Israel’s Ministry of Defence, on Wednesdays and has become grown accustomed to the threat of rocket and missile attacks. “When you live here, you get used for everything,” he said.
Mr Zilberstein believes the Israeli government should reach a ceasefire deal with Hamas, both to bring home the hostages and end the war. “Although we have been at war for a year [ …] they still manage to send rockets,” he said. “At the end of the day, I think you need to make an agreement.”
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
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How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
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Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
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."
T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Results:
Men’s wheelchair 200m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 27.14; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 27.81; 3. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 27.81.
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Squads
India: Kohli (c), Rahul, Shaw, Agarwal, Pujara, Rahane, Vihari, Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Shami, Umesh, Siraj, Thakur
West Indies: Holder (c), Ambris, Bishoo, Brathwaite, Chase, Dowrich (wk), Gabriel, Hamilton, Hetmyer, Hope, Lewis, Paul, Powell, Roach, Warrican, Joseph
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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What is a black hole?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
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