Palestinians watch as the Mhanna tower collapses amid heavy smoke, during an Israeli air strike in the Tal El Hawa neighbourhood of Gaza city. AFP
Palestinians watch as the Mhanna tower collapses amid heavy smoke, during an Israeli air strike in the Tal El Hawa neighbourhood of Gaza city. AFP
Palestinians watch as the Mhanna tower collapses amid heavy smoke, during an Israeli air strike in the Tal El Hawa neighbourhood of Gaza city. AFP
Palestinians watch as the Mhanna tower collapses amid heavy smoke, during an Israeli air strike in the Tal El Hawa neighbourhood of Gaza city. AFP

Israeli army accused of killing hundreds in Gaza 'safe zones'


Amr Mostafa
  • English
  • Arabic

Gaza authorities have accused the Israeli army of killing about 2,000 people in areas it had designated as safe and “humanitarian” after forcing them to leave Gaza city.

The Gaza media office said the army had misled people by claiming central and southern areas, including Al Mawasi, were safe – while continuing to strike there.

The Israeli army has carried out 133 strikes on the southern and central governorates since August 11, when it started an offensive on Gaza city, the office said. It added that the 1,903 people killed in these areas constituted 46 per cent of all reported deaths across the Gaza Strip during that period.

“We also call on the international community and the countries of the free world to immediately halt the crimes of genocide and aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip, and to work to rescue the remaining civilians before it is too late,” the Gaza media office said.

Dozens more people were killed across Gaza by Israeli air strikes and gunfire on Sunday, official Palestinian media said. Israel said its troops “continue to expand operations” in Gaza city, and that five of those killed were “terrorists” firing an anti-tank missile at troops.

The Israeli army acknowledged it was operating outside Gaza city, with the air force carrying out 140 strikes across the strip in the space of a day, and troops in the south described as having “eliminated terrorists and dismantled observation equipment and military infrastructure”.

The Israeli army began an expanded ground offensive in Gaza city this month. About 350,000 to 400,000 Palestinians have left what was once the strip's most populous area, but hundreds of thousands remain, according to estimates by the UN's World Food Programme.

As the offensive began, the Israeli army increased pressure on inhabitants to leave, bombing high-rise buildings and dropping leaflets ordering an “evacuation” from Gaza city. “Every family that relocates to the south will receive the most generous humanitarian aid,” the army claimed.

Palestinians have been left living in tents - if they can afford them - after the Israeli army forced them out of Gaza city. Reuters
Palestinians have been left living in tents - if they can afford them - after the Israeli army forced them out of Gaza city. Reuters

Some Palestinians who fled the army's advance on Gaza city have described to The National how they found only hunger and despair in the south, despite the Israeli claims of better conditions. Others were reluctant to leave, fearing an Israeli design to relocate them for good.

Israeli troops are attempting to take control of Gaza city, which Israeli leaders say is a Hamas stronghold. Israel says the area is home to between 2,000 and 3,000 Hamas fighters and the army operation authorised by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aims to neutralise the group's central command.

But the offensive has been widely condemned over fears it will worsen the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza. The UN says more than half a million people are trapped in famine after a months-long Israeli aid blockade.

On Sunday, at least 23 people were killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip, medical sources told official news agency Wafa. The deaths included eight people, including children and women, killed in two separate strikes on Nuseirat camp in central Gaza.

Israel began its assault on Gaza nearly two years ago after an attack led by Hamas killed about 1,200 people, with 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, Israeli troops have killed more than 66,000 Palestinians in the enclave, according to Gaza's health authorities, displaced the entire population, and crippled the territory's health system.

A global hunger monitor says famine has taken hold in parts of Gaza, while several rights experts say the army's conduct in the war amounts to genocide.

Israel strongly denies this, saying the war is an act of self-defence and that claims of genocide are based on Hamas’s assertions.

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Gordon Corera, Harper Collins

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.

'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'

Rating: 3/5

Directed by: David Yates

Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law

Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

MATCH INFO

Newcastle United 2 (Willems 25', Shelvey 88')

Manchester City 2 (Sterling 22', De Bruyne 82')

'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'

Rating: 1 out of 4

Running time: 81 minutes

Director: David Blue Garcia

Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham

List of alleged parties

 

May 12, 2020: PM and his wife Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at least 17 staff 

May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'

Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff 

Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson 

Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party

Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters 

Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz 

Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party 

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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

Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M3%2C%208-core%20CPU%2C%20up%20to%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.6-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201664%2C%20224ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%2FUSB-4%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%2C%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206E%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2052.6Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2018%20hours%2C%20MagSafe%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201080p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20Apple%20ProRes%2C%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-speaker%20system%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20support%20for%20Dolby%20Atmos%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20and%20dynamic%20head%20tracking%20(with%20AirPods)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Midnight%2C%20silver%2C%20space%20grey%2C%20starlight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Air%2C%2030W%2F35W%20dual-port%2F70w%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C-to-MagSafe%20cable%2C%202%20Apple%20stickers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh4%2C599%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why seagrass matters
  • Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
  • Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
  • Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
  • Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
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. 

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”.

The biog

Name: Capt Shadia Khasif

Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police

Family: Five sons and three daughters

The first female investigator in Hatta.

Role Model: Father

She believes that there is a solution to every problem

 

ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon

For more information go to www.abudhabi.triathlon.org.

Updated: September 29, 2025, 4:17 AM