Displaced Palestinians in Rafah decorate their tent in preparation for the start of Ramadan. Getty Images
Displaced Palestinians in Rafah decorate their tent in preparation for the start of Ramadan. Getty Images
Displaced Palestinians in Rafah decorate their tent in preparation for the start of Ramadan. Getty Images
Displaced Palestinians in Rafah decorate their tent in preparation for the start of Ramadan. Getty Images

Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza on first day of Ramadan


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

Palestinians in Gaza marked a sombre start to Ramadan on Monday, with dozens reported killed in Israeli air strikes across the devastated enclave.

Sixteen people were killed in an air strike on a family home in Gaza city, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported. Other Israeli strikes have targeted Deir Al Balah and the southern city of Rafah.

Dozens of people were killed and injured, mainly women and children, in strikes on Gaza city, Al Shati refugee camp and Khan Younis, it added, It came hours after the bodies of 10 people were found in a home in Tal Al Hawa, in the south of Gaza city.

Hopes of a ceasefire before Ramadan were dashed despite months of diplomatic wrangling to secure a halt in the fighting, which has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians in five months.

Palestinians were filmed marking the start of the holy month amid the rubble of destroyed mosques and residential buildings, while hundreds of worshippers were reportedly prevented from entering Al Aqsa Mosque compound on Sunday night.

Severe food and water shortages continue to claim lives, with two more children dying of starvation on Monday, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

A total of 27 people have died of malnutrition and dehydration in Gaza's hospitals so far, but officials say many more civilians will have died of starvation due to a lack of aid entering the enclave.

About 72,760 others have been injured by the Israeli army since the war began on October 7.

Limited air drops have been conducted over Gaza, but efforts to get more aid into the enclave stalled on Sunday after a Cypriot ship carrying 200 tonnes of food aid was delayed departing Larnaca for "technical reasons".

Israel is considering arming some civilians in Gaza to provide security protection for aid convoys into the besieged enclave, Reuters reported.

A Hamas-linked website on Monday warned Palestinian people or groups against co-operating with Israel.

Those who do would be treated as collaborators and "handled with an iron fist", the Hamas Al-Majd security website said, quoting a security official in Palestinian militant forces.

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
The specs

Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed

Power: 271 and 409 horsepower

Torque: 385 and 650Nm

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MATCH INFO

What: India v Afghanistan, first Test
When: Starts Thursday
Where: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengalaru

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

Analysis

Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
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Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
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Getting there

The flights

Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.

The stay

Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.

Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com

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Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)

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LA LIGA FIXTURES

Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)

Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)

Friday

Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)

Valencia v Levante (midnight)

Saturday

Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)

Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)

Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)

Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)

Sunday

Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)

Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)

Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)

Updated: March 12, 2024, 4:41 AM`