Lorries carrying aid for Gaza arrive at Israel's Kerem Shalom border crossing. AFP
Lorries carrying aid for Gaza arrive at Israel's Kerem Shalom border crossing. AFP
Lorries carrying aid for Gaza arrive at Israel's Kerem Shalom border crossing. AFP
Lorries carrying aid for Gaza arrive at Israel's Kerem Shalom border crossing. AFP

Kerem Shalom border crossing reopens a day after Israeli strike


Kamal Tabikha
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

As the UN on Friday prepared to vote on a long-delayed draft resolution to increase aid into Gaza, Israel reopened its Kerem Shalom border crossing.

It comes a day after humanitarian deliveries were suspended following an attack that killed four Palestinian border officials.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees was “unable to receive trucks” through Kerem Shalom following the “drone strike”, the UN Secretary General's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said on Thursday.

The World Food Programme also suspended operations at the crossing after the strike.

Kerem Shalom, between Israel and Gaza, opened on Sunday for aid deliveries for the first time since the Gaza conflict began on October 7.

Though limited numbers of aid lorries have also entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing from Egypt, none arrived on Thursday.

Seventy lorries carrying relief supplies and six carrying fuel entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing on Wednesday, Egyptian state media reported.

Israeli checks on aid deliveries have become more rigorous, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Wednesday.

A convoy of 46 lorries organised by the World Food Programme, in collaboration with a Jordanian charity, arrived in Gaza on Wednesday carrying 750 tonnes of food, the WFP said.

It was the first aid convoy to be allowed into Gaza through Jordan since the war began.

The UN warned on Thursday that one in four Gazans was suffering from starvation due to food and medicine shortages in the enclave.

The UN Security Council on Thursday postponed, for a third time, its vote on a draft resolution mandating the entry of more aid into Gaza, with the text also includes a clause on the “suspension of hostilities”. A vote on the resolution is set to take place on Friday.

The resolution had been stalled by the US, a permanent member of the Security Council, whose UN representative has lobbied for the removal of the “suspension of hostilities” from the draft.

Activists including Mary Robinson, a former UN high commissioner for human rights, have called on US President Joe Biden's administration to support the resolution and to limit its support for Israel to the bounds of international law.

“Biden’s support for Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of Gaza is losing him respect all over the world,” Ms Robinson said in a statement. “The US cannot afford to be further isolated by vetoing this resolution.”

On a visit to Cairo for talks with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron emphasised the UK's support for a “sustainable ceasefire” inside Gaza in which “Hamas is no longer able to threaten Israel with rockets”.

Lord Cameron also urged Israel to respect international law in its war on Gaza. The UK's calls for a “sustainable ceasefire” fall short of the “permanent ceasefire” called for by Arab countries.

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No more lice

Defining head lice

Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.

Identifying lice

Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.

Treating lice at home

Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.

Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital

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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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Updated: December 22, 2023, 11:48 AM