Gaza remains in great need of humanitarian assistance despite some progress in delivering more aid since a ceasefire began last month, the UN has said.
Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid during two years of war on the Palestinian territory, including months of total blockade, have created widespread hunger. Gaza was supposed to receive 600 lorries of aid daily under the terms of the ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hamas that began on October 10, but deliveries have fallen far short of this.
The UN and its partners have managed to ship 37,000 tonnes of aid, mostly food, into Gaza since the ceasefire, but much more is needed, UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters on Friday.
“Despite significant progress on the humanitarian scale-up, people’s urgent needs are still immense, with impediments not being lifted quickly enough since the ceasefire,” Mr Haq said, quoting reports from UN’s humanitarian service, OCHA.
Mr Haq lamented that entry into Gaza continues to be limited to only two crossings, with no direct access to northern Gaza from Israel or to southern Gaza from Egypt, while staff of non-government humanitarian agencies are being denied access.
Earlier this week, the UN said it had distributed food parcels to one million people in Gaza since the ceasefire, but said it was still in a race to save lives.
The UN’s World Food Programme called for all crossing points into the Gaza Strip to be opened to flood the famine-hit Palestinian territory with aid, adding that no reason was given why the northern crossings with Israel remained closed.
According to US and Israeli officials who spoke to The Washington Post and the Times of Israel, the US-led Civil Military Co-ordination Centre (CMCC), a multinational body set up to monitor the ceasefire, has taken charge of overseeing the delivery of aid.
Israel has been playing a secondary role in the process, while the US has become the main decision-maker at the CMCC, including on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, an Israeli official told Times of Israel.
Israel faces accusations of genocide against Palestinians over its aid blockades, which led the UN to declare famine in Gaza city in August and the destruction of homes, medical facilities and infrastructure in attacks that have killed more than 68,000 people, mostly civilians.
On Friday, Turkey announced that it had issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials in his government on charges of genocide.
The Istanbul prosecutor’s office said warrants were issued for a total of 37 suspects, without providing a full list.
They include Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and army chief Lt Gen Eyal Zamir.
Turkey has accused the officials of “genocide and crimes against humanity” that Israel has “perpetrated systematically” in Gaza.
The statement also refers to the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, built by Turkey in the Gaza Strip and bombed by Israel in March.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel “firmly rejects, with contempt” the charges, calling them “the latest publicity stunt by the tyrant [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan”.
The Breadwinner
Director: Nora Twomey
Starring: Saara Chaudry, Soma Chhaya, Laara Sadiq
Three stars
Company%20Profile
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate’s increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
LIVING IN…
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
FIXTURES
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m | Winner: Eghel De Pine, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Sheaar, Szczepan Mazur, Saeed Al Shamsi
6pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (PA) Group 3 Dh500,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Torch, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (TB) Listed Dh380,000 1,600m | Winner: Forjatt, Chris Hayes, Nicholas Bachalard
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 1,400m | Winner: Hawafez, Connor Beasley, Ridha ben Attia
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 80,000 1,600m | Winner: Qader, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roaulle
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
If you go…
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Read more about the coronavirusOppenheimer
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE