Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Palestinian content creators and journalists are offering a harrowing and surreal first-hand account of the devastating effects of Israeli air strikes on Gaza and those who live there.
Their footage gives insight to viewers and shares an unfiltered perspective into the human toll and widespread destruction of the Gaza Strip.
Videos and pictures show the destruction of buildings, every day civilian life and the resilience of Gazan communities.
I walk around my neighbourhood and cannot recognise it any more
Hind Khoudary,
Palestinian journalist in Gaza
Hind Khoudary, a Palestinian freelance journalist, has been documenting her experience in Gaza city using her camera and mobile phone since the conflict began on October 7.
“Many people want to know what is happening inside Gaza,” Ms Khoudary told The National.
“We don't deserve such war crimes happening to innocent people.”
The Palestinian returned to Gaza two months ago, before the conflict began, after spending four years in Turkey during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Her Instagram account now shows scenes from local hospitals as they struggle to cope with the increased number of casualties, houses reduced to rubble and life on the ground amid dwindling food and water supplies.
There are also other, more graphic, posts of civilians and children, who have been killed.
“War must stop as soon as possible. There are thousands of dead people and injuries. The scale of devastation is too large.
“I walk around my neighbourhood and cannot recognise it any more,” she said.
Ms Khoudary is stationed near Al Shifa Hospital where she sleeps in her friend's car. Her fellow journalists are sleeping outside without cover.
“We feel that we will all die. About 18 journalists have been killed in this war and counting. It's catastrophic,” she said.
Ms Khoudary and other content creators start their work by visiting hospitals and destroyed buildings and posting it to their social media platforms.
“It's an ongoing cycle of storytelling. My cousin was killed in an air strike along with a group of my friends. My mother's family were extracted from under rubbles after an air strike, while my husband's family house was destroyed,” she said.
“We all became refugees in our own land.”
Abed Elhakeem Abo Riash, 34, who also lives in Gaza, is another Palestinian freelance content creator aiming to show the world the reality of the Gaza Strip.
His Instagram account also shows photographs and videos depicting the destruction of Gaza, and Palestinians mourning family members.
“Israeli aggression is targeting children, women and innocent people. We are using our cameras and phones to document their war crimes,” he told The National, before rushing to take photos of the Israeli air strike on the Al-Shati refugee camp on Tuesday, where 50 Palestinian civilians remain under the rubble.
“Every minute there is a new massacre against civilians, journalists, paramedics and civil defence members. We will not stop our coverage.”
Mr Abo Riash said content creators play an important role in showing the brutality of air strikes in Gaza.
“Using social media has a notable impact on the world. We are on day 18 of the conflict and we hope our coverage has helped to shed a light on the brutal aggression,” he said.
“We hope our determination to document and share our experiences are invaluable in raising global awareness and mobilising support for the people of Gaza during this challenging time.
“The world should not stand still.”
Match info:
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Manchester United 2
Lukaku (22', 44')
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Past winners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2016 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2014 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2012 Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2011 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2010 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2009 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
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THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: Dh146,999
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
if you go
The flights
Fly direct to Kutaisi with Flydubai from Dh925 return, including taxes. The flight takes 3.5 hours. From there, Svaneti is a four-hour drive. The driving time from Tbilisi is eight hours.
The trip
The cost of the Svaneti trip is US$2,000 (Dh7,345) for 10 days, including food, guiding, accommodation and transfers from and to Tbilisi or Kutaisi. This summer the TCT is also offering a 5-day hike in Armenia for $1,200 (Dh4,407) per person. For further information, visit www.transcaucasiantrail.org/en/hike/
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
