Smoke rises during an Israeli ground offensive in Khan Younis, as seen from Rafah. Reuters
Smoke rises during an Israeli ground offensive in Khan Younis, as seen from Rafah. Reuters
Smoke rises during an Israeli ground offensive in Khan Younis, as seen from Rafah. Reuters
Smoke rises during an Israeli ground offensive in Khan Younis, as seen from Rafah. Reuters

Panic in Khan Younis hospital as Israel orders evacaution


Holly Johnston
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Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

Dozens have been killed and injured in Israeli attacks on a UN-funded school, cemetery and crowds heading to Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza city on Monday.

At least 10 people were killed in an Israeli strike on school run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza city's Al Rimal district, the official Wafa news agency reported on Monday morning.

Two people were also killed after a cemetery in Al Daraj, central Gaza, was bombed while several displaced people headed to Al Shifa hospital to seek shelter were wounded when the army "opened fire" in the direction of the medical centre.

Other attacks were reported across Gaza city, Beit Lahia and Khan Younis, where the last of Gaza's hospitals are on the brink of shutting down.

Civilians near the Palestine Red Crescent's Al Shifa Hospital in Khan Younis have been told to evacuate to Al Mawasi, the organisation said, forcing thousands of displaced people to leave the compound.

“Israeli drones with loudspeakers called residents near Al Amal Hospital and Al Amal neighbourhood to evacuate, instructing immediate relocation to Mawasi west of Khan Younis,” it wrote on X.

“There is a state of panic and tension which prevails among the displaced citizens," Muhammad Abu Musabeh, director of the ambulance and emergency centre, told the Red Cresent.

"We, the medical teams and the displaced citizens, are now at the hospital, waiting to take a decision. Evacuation can only occur through co-ordination or a humanitarian route to ensure the safety of those in the area."

Mr Abu Musabeh said a growing number of internally displaced people are moving to the hospital from the adjacent Red Crescent headquarters.

“Presumably, they believe that this place is protected or falls within the scope of protection beyond the message of the occupation forces."

Several people have been killed at or near the entrance to the hospital in the eight days it has been under siege by the Israeli army.

Three people killed in Israeli fire on Al Amal Hospital and the Red Crescent headquarters were buried in the hospital's courtyard on Sunday, the organisation said.

“This is due to the difficulty of transporting them to an official cemetery due to the ongoing blockade imposed on the hospital,” it wrote on X.

Two of the displaced people were killed on Sunday in front of the Red Crescent headquarters adjacent to the hospital, while the third was shot dead outside Al Amal's emergency department on Saturday, said officials.

Oxygen supplies at the hospital have run out and doctors are no longer able to perform operations, the organisation warned.

About 150 people have been buried in a mass grave at the city's Nasser Hospital, which is also under siege.

The offensive comes at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Bejnamin Netanyahu said talks to broker a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas were constructive but “significant gaps” remained in reaching an agreement.

American, Israeli and Egyptian intelligence chiefs met Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman for the talks.

About 130 hostages remain in the Gaza Strip since a four-day truce in November freed more than 100 others and secured the release of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli jails.

Cairo said a “phased but full” detainee swap and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza must form part of any agreement made between Israel and Hamas, sources told The National ahead of the Paris summit.

Hamas has told Egyptian mediators it would not “entertain” any deal that omits a permanent ceasefire, release of all Palestinian detainees in Israel, and a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the sources added.

While Israelis continue to protest in favour of a ceasefire deal to secure the release of Israeli captives, the government has repeatedly rejected calls for a lasting truce.

War cabinet minister Benny Gantz has said Israel's war with Hamas may last "an entire generation."

“Complete removal of the threat will take time,” Israel’s Channel 12 reported Mr Gantz as telling Israelis displaced from southern communities bordering Gaza.

There are hopes the Paris meetings will usher in a two-month pause to the fighting in Gaza, which has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians in under four months.

That followed attacks by Hamas militants on Israeli communities on October 7, in which 1,200 people were killed and about 240 abducted.

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Where to buy art books in the UAE

There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.

In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show. 

In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.

In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.

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

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How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
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  • The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
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Updated: January 29, 2024, 1:59 PM