An Israeli tank returns from the Gaza Strip. Israel has launched further attacks on southern and central areas of the besieged enclave. Reuters
An Israeli tank returns from the Gaza Strip. Israel has launched further attacks on southern and central areas of the besieged enclave. Reuters
An Israeli tank returns from the Gaza Strip. Israel has launched further attacks on southern and central areas of the besieged enclave. Reuters
An Israeli tank returns from the Gaza Strip. Israel has launched further attacks on southern and central areas of the besieged enclave. Reuters

Israeli tanks advance in western Rafah amid heavy fire


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

Israeli tanks have advanced in western parts of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, amid a barrage of air strikes and artillery fire that forced residents of a nearby designated safe zone to flee.

Posts on social media showed families leaving homes and tents in the coastal Al Mawasi area on Wednesday night. Dozens of people were killed or injured, the Wafa news agency reported.

The Israeli military denied launching strikes inside Al Mawasi, an area along the coast west of Rafah where it told people to go before launching a military offensive in Gaza's southernmost city in May.

Israel said its latest assault is aimed at wiping out the remaining Hamas combat units in Rafah. The military used explosives to destroy buildings in the centre of Rafah city as its forces pushed west.

More than one million Gazans were sheltering in the city, most of them displaced by bombardment and fighting in other areas after Israel launched its military offensive in Gaza in October.

Hundreds of thousands fled as Israeli forces advanced, most moving to Khan Younis, the city north of Rafah, and to Deir Al Balah in the central Gaza Strip.

The military said it was continuing “intelligence-based, targeted operations” in Rafah, and that troops found weapons and killed gunmen in close-range combat in the past day.

It said 10 Hamas fighters were killed in central Gaza, including one who took part in the October 7 attack on southern Israel that led to the war.

During the past 24 hours, Israeli jets hit 45 targets in Gaza, the military said. The strikes, including attacks on homes in Gaza city and Nuseirat in central Gaza, also killed civilians, Wafa reported.

It comes as Israel arrested at least 12 Palestinians, including a child and several former prisoners, in the occupied West Bank during raids on Thursday, the Palestinian Prisoner's Society said.

The group said the arrests were made in Hebron, Nablus, Salfit, Qalqilya and Jenin – where the raids are continuing.

Israeli forces have arrested 9,185 people in the West Bank since October 7, it added

Earlier in the day, Palestinian media reported that the Israeli military were destroyed buildings across Jenin, including in the refugee camp.

A Palestinian man was also shot when Israeli forces stormed Jenin and paramedics were reportedly prevented from reaching him. His condition remains unknown.

Videos on social media showed Israeli bulldozers pushing rubble and debris along destroyed roads.

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1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 10 wins 387 points

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5 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1 win, 230 points

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 390bhp

Torque: 400Nm

Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals

Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent   

UAE%20SQUAD
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WITHIN%20SAND
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Cinco in numbers

Dh3.7 million

The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown

46

The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.

1,000

The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]

50

How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday

3,000

The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

1.1 million

The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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World Cricket League Division 2

In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.

UAE fixtures

Thursday, February 8 v Kenya; Friday, February v Canada; Sunday, February 11 v Nepal; Monday, February 12 v Oman; Wednesday, February 14 v Namibia; Thursday, February 15 final

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

The biog

Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus

Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India

Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes

Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island

MATCH INFO

Hoffenheim v Liverpool
Uefa Champions League play-off, first leg
Location: Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim
Kick-off: Tuesday, 10.45pm (UAE)

Day 3, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Just three balls remained in an exhausting day for Sri Lanka’s bowlers when they were afforded some belated cheer. Nuwan Pradeep, unrewarded in 15 overs to that point, let slip a seemingly innocuous delivery down the legside. Babar Azam feathered it behind, and Niroshan Dickwella dived to make a fine catch.

Stat of the day - 2.56 Shan Masood and Sami Aslam are the 16th opening partnership Pakistan have had in Tests in the past five years. That turnover at the top of the order – a new pair every 2.56 Test matches on average – is by far the fastest rate among the leading Test sides. Masood and Aslam put on 114 in their first alliance in Abu Dhabi.

The verdict Even by the normal standards of Test cricket in the UAE, this has been slow going. Pakistan’s run-rate of 2.38 per over is the lowest they have managed in a Test match in this country. With just 14 wickets having fallen in three days so far, it is difficult to see 26 dropping to bring about a result over the next two.

Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

Race card

1.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

2pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m

2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m

3pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1.950m

3.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m

4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m

4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m

COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

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While you're here
MO
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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Updated: June 14, 2024, 4:07 AM