Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
A Palestinian diplomat has told the UN's top court that Israel is killing and displacing civilians and attacking aid workers in Gaza in a “man-made catastrophe of unprecedented proportions”.
Ammar Hijazi was speaking on Monday at a hearing at the International Court of Justice into Israel’s legal obligations to enable aid into the occupied territories. Israel responded by accusing the court of being "politicised".
Mr Hijazi said Israel was blocking humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza as a “weapon of war”. “Starvation is here,” the ambassador to The Hague said at the start of a week of hearings. “All UN-supported bakeries in Gaza have been forced to shut their doors. Nine of every 10 Palestinians have no access to safe drinking water.
“Storage facilities of the UN and other international agencies are empty.”
He claimed the case was about Israel "destroying the fundamentals of life in Palestine".
Palestine's UN envoy Riyad Mansour accused Israel of using the blockade on humanitarian supplies to entrench its occupation of Palestinian land.
"From the 18-year blockade over Gaza, to nearly 1,000 military checkpoints and obstacles to access and movement in the West Bank, to attempts to sever East Jerusalem from its Palestinian environment, Israel systematically created our dependency on aid and then deliberately deprived us of this aid," he said.
The UN’s legal counsel accused Israel of breaking international law, saying it had a clear obligation as an occupying force to allow and facilitate humanitarian aid for the people in Gaza.
"In the specific context of the current situation in the occupied Palestinian Territories, these obligations entail allowing all relevant UN entities to carry out activities for the benefit of the local population," Elinor Hammarskjold said.
Pressuring Israel into adhering to international law would allow Palestinians to receive the aid they need, said Mr Mansour. "Which begs the question, why do Palestinians need assistance to begin with? Israel annexes our land, it kills, dispossess and displaces to destroy our people. It steals our resources and revenues. It fragments our territory. It severely restricts our movement and access."
Months before ruling
The ICJ is holding a week of hearings before delivering a non-binding “advisory opinion”. The court will probably take months to rule. Experts say the decision, though not legally binding, could profoundly impact international jurisprudence, international aid to Israel and public opinion. The court believes it carries “great legal weight and moral authority”.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the hearings part of a “systematic persecution and delegitimisation” of his country. Speaking in Jerusalem as the hearings began in The Hague, Mr Saar said the court was “becoming completely politicised”. He called the proceeding “shameful”.
Dozens of countries and organisations will address the 15-judge panel in a marathon set of hearings.
Judges will consider Israel's legal obligations towards the UN and its agencies, international organisations or third-party states to “ensure and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently needed supplies essential to the survival of the Palestinian civilian population”.
Israel denies deliberately attacking civilians and aid staff and is not participating in the hearings, but its ally the US will take part on Wednesday.
Israel strictly controls all inflows of international aid vital for the 2.4 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The hearings open as the humanitarian aid system in Gaza is nearing collapse. Israel has blocked the entry of food, fuel, medicine and other humanitarian supplies since March 2. It renewed its bombardment on March 18, breaking a ceasefire, and seized large parts of the territory, saying it aims to push Hamas to release more hostages. Despite the increased Israeli pressure, ceasefire efforts remain deadlocked.
The hearings gave particular focus to the role of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). An Israeli law banning the agency came into effect this year, hindering its activities despite the soaring needs of Palestinians. Palestine argued the ban was a breach of Israel's obligations under the UN Charter.
"Given UNRWA’s unmatched ability to provide relief schemes and to do so at scale to the Palestinian population, there can be no doubt that Israel is obligated to facilitate and expand the agency’s vital work rather than attack and sabotage it," said Ardi Imseis, an international law expert representing Palestine.
More than 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homeland during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Many of their descendants in the region are educated and cared for by UNRWA. Hatem Kamaleldin Abdel Kader, Egypt's Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Legal Affairs and Treaties, said there was "no substitute to UNRWA" until a sovereign Palestinian state was established.
Egypt echoed Palestinian concerns about forced displacement. "Israel’s total war is a means to achieve a far more insidious end – the removal of Palestinians from their land and their extermination under the fog of war," said Jasmine Moussa, a legal adviser of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
The World Food Programme said last week its food stocks in Gaza have run out under Israel’s nearly eight-week-old blockade, ending a main source of sustenance for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the enclave. Many families are struggling to feed their children.
The UN estimates 500,000 Palestinians have been displaced since the two-month ceasefire ended in March.
The UN has asked the ICJ to rule “with the utmost urgency” on the case, but it will probably take several months to reach its opinion.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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All about the Sevens
Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales
HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
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The Greatest Royal Rumble card
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
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Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev
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New schools in Dubai
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Coal Black Mornings
Brett Anderson
Little Brown Book Group
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
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- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
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Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
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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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
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Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
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
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