Kerem Shalom, Israel // Responding to a diplomatic furore over Israel's raid on the humanitarian flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip on Monday, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) announced yesterday it will begin transferring to the embattled Palestinian territory some of the 10,000 tonnes of aid carried on the seized cargo vessels.
But Hamas officials, speaking from Gaza, refused to accept the aid until the hundreds of foreign activists detained in the operation and being held in Beersheva prison in southern Israel are released, according to media reports from Gaza.
Hamas will accept the aid "only if the shipments are complete and when Israel release all activists who were onboard the ships", Ziad al Zaza, Hamas's minister of economy, said, according to wire service reports.
Israeli officials said they began the transfer yesterday of some medical supplies, and will allow the transfer of clothing and toys, but refused to comment on whether or not they would permit the import of thousands of tonnes of cement also on board the ship.
Goods are being off-loaded, identified and undergoing Israeli "security checks", an official with the Israeli military said at a briefing at the Kerem Shalom border crossing. After the checks, items will be either rejected or approved for transfer to the Gaza Strip.
"The [Israeli] government has begun unloading the cargo of three of the ships that were part of the illegal flotilla that tried to sail to the Gaza Strip," Uri Singer, the head of the foreign relations branch of Israel's Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, said the briefing.
"The goods arrived without any [purchase] order or manifest," he continued. "We need to understand first what is on the ships, and then we will process and send the goods according to Israeli policy vis-à-vis the Gaza Strip."
Gaza has been held under a tight Israeli blockade for three years, since Hamas, a bitter enemy of Israel, seized power there in 2007. Israel has strictly limited the amount of goods, fuel and construction materials that enter the territory in an attempt to weaken the Islamists, but arbitrarily banning items such as chocolate and coriander as "luxury goods".
Israel has hinted it would loosen the blockade if Hamas were to release Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian militants in 2006.
Israel had offered, prior to the flotilla's departure, to transport the cargo through its own crossings with Gaza and via the United Nations, but the foreign activists refused, saying the goods they carried, including cement, water-purification systems and notebook paper, are specifically banned for import by Israeli authorities.
"All of the stuff we have, all of it at one time or another has been prohibited from entering Gaza," said Greta Berlin, a spokeswoman for the Free Gaza Movement, in Cyprus this week.
But getting the goods into Gaza was not the only aim, organisers said. It was also about challenging Israel's claim that it no longer occupies Gaza - Israel withdrew its forces in 2005, but still controls the enclave's land borders, territorial waters and airspace - while maintaining a strict economic blockade.
"We want to make a statement to say: 'Gazans have the right to live like we do,'" Mrs Berlin said, "and to have access to their own borders."
@Email:foreign.desk@thenational.ae
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Guillermo Vilas - 659
Manuel Orantes - 501
Thomas Muster - 422
Rafael Nadal - 399 *
Jose Higueras - 378
Eddie Dibbs - 370
Ilie Nastase - 338
Carlos Moya - 337
Ivan Lendl - 329
Andres Gomez - 322
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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Haemoglobin disorders explained
Thalassaemia is part of a family of genetic conditions affecting the blood known as haemoglobin disorders.
Haemoglobin is a substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen and a lack of it triggers anemia, leaving patients very weak, short of breath and pale.
The most severe type of the condition is typically inherited when both parents are carriers. Those patients often require regular blood transfusions - about 450 of the UAE's 2,000 thalassaemia patients - though frequent transfusions can lead to too much iron in the body and heart and liver problems.
The condition mainly affects people of Mediterranean, South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern origin. Saudi Arabia recorded 45,892 cases of carriers between 2004 and 2014.
A World Health Organisation study estimated that globally there are at least 950,000 'new carrier couples' every year and annually there are 1.33 million at-risk pregnancies.
Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
