Egypt on Friday rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusation that Cairo is forcing residents of Gaza who want to flee the war in the territory to remain there “against their will”.
Mr Netanyahu claimed in an interview with Abu Ali Express, an Israeli social media channel covering Arab affairs, that he would allow Gazans to leave through the Rafah crossing but “they would be blocked by Egypt”.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry described Mr Netanyahu’s statement as “part of his continuous attempts to prolong the period of escalation in the region and entrench instability to avoid confronting the consequences of Israeli violations in Gaza, both internally and externally”.
Egypt “reiterates its condemnation and rejection of the displacement of the Palestinian people under any pretext, whether forced or voluntary, from their land through the continued targeting of civilians, civilian infrastructure, and various aspects of life,” the ministry said.
Egypt closed the Rafah crossing from Gaza in May last year after Israeli troops seized control of the Palestinian side.
Mr Netanyahu’s remarks were also condemned by Qatar and Jordan. The Qatari Foreign Ministry described them as "an extension of the occupation's [Israel's] approach of violating the rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, its contempt for international laws and agreements, and its toxic efforts to obstruct peace prospects, particularly the two-state solution".
Jordan's Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning "the hostile and unacceptable statements issued by extremists within the Israeli government regarding the displacement of Palestinians from their land, the latest of which was the Israeli Prime Minister's statement regarding the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing".
Mr Netanyahu's remarks came amid growing calls by members of his far-right government for Israel to seize control of Gaza and force out the population of the Palestinian territory.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister said earlier on Friday that Cairo would not tolerate the mass displacement of Palestinians.
"Displacement is not an option and it is a red line for Egypt and we will not allow it to happen," Badr Abdelatty told reporters during a visit to Cyprus.
"Displacement means liquidation and the end of the Palestinian cause and there is no legal or moral or ethical ground to evict people from their homeland," he said.
"What is happening on the ground is far beyond the imagination,” Mr Abdelatty said, referring to Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza, now in its 23rd month.
“There is a genocide in motion there, mass killing of civilians, artificial starvation created by the Israelis," he said.
Egypt and Qatar, along with the US, have acted as mediators in efforts to end the devastating war in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, when the militant group Hamas killed about 1,200 people in raids on southern Israel, mostly civilians, and took about 250 others hostage. Israel's retaliation has killed more than 64,000 people in Gaza and injured more than 162,000, mostly civilians.
Israeli air attacks and ground operations have damaged or destroyed homes, hospitals, schools and infrastructure across the small coastal territory while displacing most of its 2.2 million residents. Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid have created widespread hunger, with the UN last month declaring a famine in Gaza city, where about half of the population live.
The Israeli military has begun an assault on the city that Mr Netanyahu has said is needed to defeat Hamas and free about 50 remaining hostages, despite global concerns about the impact on civilians.
Gaza city high-rise destroyed
The Israeli army launched strikes one of Gaza city’s few remaining high-rise buildings on Friday, after Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to unleash “hell” on its residents.
“Now the bolt must be removed from the gates of hell in Gaza,” Mr Katz wrote on X. The attacks will intensify, he warned, until Israeli hostages are returned and Hamas disarms.
Mr Katz said a notice to evict people from a high-rise tower in Gaza city had been delivered, and warned of an impending attack on what is left standing in the devastated territory after nearly two years of war.
Minutes later, the Israeli army hit Al Mushtaha tower, in western Gaza city.
The military claimed that the building was used by Hamas and housed weapons and surveillance equipment to plot attacks against its troops.
The tower's management denied the claims.
"We categorically deny the lies propagated by the Israeli occupation, and confirm that the tower, since its targeting last year, has been under strict supervision by the management, and only displaced civilians are permitted to enter," it said in a statement circulated by Palestinian media.
Hamas issued a statement condemning the strike, and called the Israeli claims "flimsy pretexts and blatant lies" used to justify its attacks.
Earlier on Friday, Hamas's armed wing released footage of two Israeli hostages in the city.
In the video, a hostage is driven to the headquarters of the International Committee for the Red Crescent (ICRC) where he meets a second hostage. He can be heard saying there are eight other hostages in Gaza city.
Hours after the video was released, Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir renewed his call to reoccupy Gaza, for the “complete crushing” of the territory and “encouragement of emigration” of its people. He said this was how the hostages would be returned.
Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes killed 19 people in and around Gaza city on Friday. The UN estimates the area is home to nearly one million people and declared a famine there last month. At least 376 people, of them 134 children, have died of malnutrition and starvation, health authorities said on Friday.
On Thursday, Israel said it had taken control of 40 per cent of Gaza city.
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
The 24-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg).
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion), Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Youri Tielemans (Monaco), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur).
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea/Dortmund), Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yifang), Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United), Dries Mertens (Napoli).
Standby player: Laurent Ciman (Los Angeles FC).
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
More on Quran memorisation:
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Sleep Well Beast
The National
4AD
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Her most famous song
Aghadan Alqak (Would I Ever Find You Again)?
Would I ever find you again
You, the heaven of my love, my yearning and madness;
You, the kiss to my soul, my cheer and
sadness?
Would your lights ever break the night of my eyes again?
Would I ever find you again?
This world is volume and you're the notion,
This world is night and you're the lifetime,
This world is eyes and you're the vision,
This world is sky and you're the moon time,
Have mercy on the heart that belongs to you.
Lyrics: Al Hadi Adam; Composer: Mohammed Abdel Wahab
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
