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 BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
