Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
UN humanitarian aid operations in Gaza were forced to halt on Monday following new evacuation orders from Israel, issued late on Sunday for Deir Al Balah in the central Gaza Strip, a senior official said.
“What transpired over the weekend brings us to a point where we just cannot continue to operate, and it's not under our control … practically we cannot operate,” the UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters.
“This morning, I had a chat with my security adviser on the ground, and I asked, 'are there any operations this morning?' He said ‘no, impossible'.”
The official said the UN had relocated its main command operations for the Gaza Strip and most personnel to Deir Al Balah after Israel ordered the evacuation of Rafah in the south of Gaza.
The Israeli military said on Monday it was going after “terror operatives” in Deir Al Balah and working to dismantle the “remaining terrorist infrastructure” of Hamas, whose attack on southern Israel on October 7 triggered the war in the Gaza Strip.
People in Deir Al Balah were told by the Israeli military on Sunday to “evacuate immediately”.
Despite the operational challenges, the UN official emphasised that the world body has no plans to withdraw from Gaza.
“We need to find solutions,” the official said. “And if it means that we need to anchor down for 24-48 hours and reset, we do that. But we're not leaving. Right now, the challenge is to find a place where we can reset and effectively operate.”
When questioned about whether Israel is viewed as a partner or adversary in the UN's efforts in Gaza, the official said: “Israel is a partner and I think for us … to bring Israel to trust us, to trust the UN.”
Speaking from Gaza, Louise Wateridge, senior communications officer for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said about 15 displacement orders have been issued in the past month.
“Every time there is an evacuation order issued, our facilities are very often in those areas and we have had to stop what we're doing and rethink everything,” she said.
Ms Wateridge said there was “no humanity left” in Gaza.
“People are using the sand and building walls with the sand to stop the seawater coming into their makeshift shelters … there are scorpions, there are mosquitoes, rats, mice, snakes among the population who are living in these conditions,” she explained.
“We're seeing an increase in spread of disease … there is very limited hope … It's very degrading for the population. But really, when you talk to people, they tell you now that they are really waiting for death.”
Echoing Ms Wateridge's concerns, Sam Rose, UNRWA's senior deputy field director, said: “We are being squeezed into ever smaller areas of Gaza. The humanitarian zone declared by Israel has shrunk.
“It's now about 11 per cent of the entire Gaza Strip. And this isn't 11 per cent of land that is fit for habitation, fit for services, fit for life, really. These are sand dunes.”
Since the Gaza war began, more than 40,400 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza's health authority. More than twice that number have been injured and most of the enclave's 2.3 million residents displaced, some several times.
Tell Me Who I Am
Director: Ed Perkins
Stars: Alex and Marcus Lewis
Four stars
RESULT
Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Qalandars 109-3 (10ovs)
Salt 30, Malan 24, Trego 23, Jayasuriya 2-14
Bangla Tigers (9.4ovs)
Fletcher 52, Rossouw 31
Bangla Tigers win by six wickets
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
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%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Kaoutar%20Harchi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPublisher%3A%20Other%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20176%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Favourite film: The Notebook
Favourite book: What I know for sure by Oprah Winfrey
Favourite quote: “Social equality is the only basis of human happiness” Nelson Madela. Hometown: Emmen, The Netherlands
Favourite activities: Walking on the beach, eating at restaurants and spending time with friends
Job: Founder and Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful Peopl
Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books
Results
6pm: Dubai Trophy – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: Silent Speech, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby
(trainer)
6.35pm: Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m
Winner: Island Falcon, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Dirt)
1,400m
Winner: Rawy, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.45pm: Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Desert Fire, Hector Crouch, Saeed bin Suroor
8.20pm: Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Naval Crown, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.55pm: Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Al Tariq, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watsons
9.30pm: Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Dubai Icon, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
The biog
DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
Status: Single
Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year
