Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Wednesday denounced the use of “hunger as a weapon” in the Gaza war, describing the Israeli tactic as “very, very grave”.
Egypt, which borders both Gaza and Israel, has, together with the United States and Qatar, been trying for months to broker a ceasefire and the release of Israeli and other hostages held by Hamas.
Its relations with Israel have been fraught with tension since the war broke out 11 months ago. They were further strained in May when Israel captured the Palestinian side of the land crossing between Egypt and Gaza along with a narrow strip running the length of the Arab nation's border with the coastal enclave, called Salah Al Din.
In protest, Egypt closed the land crossing at Rafah through which much of the humanitarian assistance reaching Gaza passed.
“Hunger is being used as a weapon against the Palestinians and that's a very, very grave matter that has massive impact on the credibility and values of human rights,” Mr El Sisi told a joint news conference with visiting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose country is among Israel's staunchest supporters in Europe.
“It's a blatant violation of human rights that's happening within our earshot and in full sight of all of us and we cannot do anything about it,” he lamented.
Most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents are facing hunger, with the north of the enclave worst-hit, as the war rages on unabated with more than 41,000 Palestinians killed and more than twice that number wounded.
Germany is one of Egypt's largest European trade partners, with joint transport and energy projects worth billions of dollars. Egypt has also been buying weapons from Germany, including submarines.
Mr El Sisi called on Europe to play a more assertive role in the search for an end to the Gaza war. “It's very, very important that Europe exerts a large effort at this point to pressure the relevant parties.”
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
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Dr Graham's three goals
Short term
Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines
Intermediate term
Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations
Long term
A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness
Series result
1st ODI Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets
2nd ODI Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets
3rd ODI Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets
4th ODI Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets
5th ODI Zimbabwe won by 3 wickets
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
