At least 20 people were killed in Gaza city on Wednesday when Israeli forces bombed warehouses sheltering displaced Palestinians, with artillery shelling and drone flights reported across swathes of the city.
Israel is pushing deeper into the area in a bid to seize the enclave's largest urban centre, which it says functions as a command and control hub for Hamas.
The offensive has sparked international outcry over fears it will worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has been devastated by almost two years of war.
On Tuesday, a UN commission said Israel has shown a clear intent to establish permanent control over Gaza through demolition of civilian infrastructure since the war began.
"The destruction of civilian objects for expansion of territorial control has been part of a widespread and systematic attack by Israel directed against the civilian population in Gaza," the UN report said.
It said Israel was in control of 75 per cent of the territory as of July.
Official Palestinian media reported that at least 33 people were killed by Israeli shelling and gunfire across Gaza on Wednesday morning, including 28 in Gaza city.
The Wafa news agency cited medical sources as saying 20 died in the warehouse bombing near the city's Firas Market.
In the city's south, five more people were killed and others injured when a house was targeted in the Sabra neighbourhood. Four others died in the bombing of a house at the Nuseirat displacement camp in central Gaza.
Drones were flying over Gaza city, Wafa said, while artillery shelling was reported in eastern, southern and north-western areas of the city.
Israel says its war in Gaza does not target ordinary Palestinians but aims to eradicate Hamas, whose fighters triggered the conflict in October 2023 with their attack on southern Israel.
It dismissed Tuesday's UN report, saying it “has everything backwards”.
“Hamas has genocidal intent towards Israel … This commission does not miss an opportunity to reveal its true character and politically-driven agenda,” Israel said.
The UN's Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory said Israeli forces have “intentionally altered the geography of Gaza” through the creation of military corridors, expanding a border buffer zone between Israel and Gaza and establishing security zones.
In the occupied West Bank, the UN report found Israel had shown clear intent to ensure a Jewish majority by forcibly transferring Palestinians and expanding Jewish settlements with the goal of annexing the territory.
“Increasing violent attacks by settlers have resulted in the forcible displacement of communities and subsequent Judaisation of areas of the West Bank,” it said.
The report highlighted military operations in Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps, which resulted in the destruction of homes and infrastructure and the displacement of residents. The commission said these operations were unjustified militarily and constituted collective punishment.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has previously said the operations reduced the threat from armed groups.
Israel has remained defiant in the face of growing international criticism of its conduct in the Gaza war, particularly from European and Arab states.
On Tuesday, Arab leaders and other heads of state met with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss the conflict.
Few details emerged from the meeting but Mr Trump reportedly presented a “comprehensive plan” for Gaza.
It was not immediately clear if the participants agreed on a road map for ending the war, but the Arab officials and Mr Trump said stopping the fighting was a shared priority.
“We’re going to work very hard on this. This is going to be my most important meeting,” Mr Trump said.
Washington has been discussing its Gaza plan with Qatar, Egypt and other Arab states. It would mean Hamas disarming, hostages held by the group being released and Gaza being governed by technocrats while large-scale postwar redevelopment is carried out.
For now, however, widespread destruction continues in the enclave. A Palestinian medical charity said on Tuesday that Israel destroyed its main health centre in Gaza city.
The Palestinian Medical Relief Society said an air strike reduced the six-storey building to rubble in the central Samer area. It said it had been an important facility in the city, providing blood donation and testing services, trauma care, cancer medicine and chronic disease treatment.
Israel has repeatedly bombed and raided hospitals in Gaza, accusing Hamas of using medical facilities for military purposes, but providing little evidence to support its claim.
The head of the World Health Organisation condemned the strike on the Medical Relief Society building.
“Attacks on health facilities must end. The senseless violence must stop. Ceasefire!” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X.
The medical charity said another of its centres was also damaged and surrounded by Israeli troops, while a third facility was destroyed in a separate strike.
Another medical NGO, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, said on Tuesday that its oxygen station at Al Quds Hospital, south-west of Gaza city, had stopped operating after being shot at by Israeli forces.
It said on X that the hospital was now relying on pre-filled oxygen cylinders to supply patients, which will only last three days.
Israeli vehicles were stationed at the southern gate, preventing entry and exit, the group added.
“Hospitals must serve as safe havens for patients and are entitled to special protection under international humanitarian law,” the group said.
“We call on the international community to act immediately to protect medical teams and patients.”
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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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”.
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
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
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Points Classification
1. Marcel Kittel (Germany / Quick-Step) 63
2. Arnaud Demare (France / FDJ) 38
3. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto) 25
4. Sonny Colbrelli (Italy / Bahrain) 24
5. Mark Cavendish (Britain / Dimension Data) 22
6. Taylor Phinney (U.S. / Cannondale) 21
7. Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky) 20
8. Thomas Boudat (France / Direct Energie) 20
9. Stefan Kueng (Switzerland / BMC Racing) 17
10. Michael Matthews (Australia / Sunweb) 17
Race 3
Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars
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
Sheffield United 2 Bournemouth 1
United: Sharp (45 2'), Lundstram (84')
Bournemouth: C Wilson (13')
Man of the Match: Jack O’Connell (Sheffield United)
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
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
The biog
Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile
Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
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The specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 849Nm
Range: 456km
Price: from Dh437,900
On sale: now
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.
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
More on animal trafficking
