Inside a district court in Oakland, California on Friday, a group of Palestinian Americans, Gaza residents and representatives of human rights organisations gave evidence in a case against President Joe Biden's administration, which is accused of complicity in and failure to prevent an unfolding genocide in Gaza.
“It was incredibly powerful and historic,” Laila al-Haddad, a Palestinian-American writer and one of the plaintiffs who has lost more than 100 relatives in Gaza, told The National.
“The testimonies were incredibly moving.
“And for me as a Palestinian American, it was an incredibly powerful moment to be able to share my family's story and to be in that space, to be heard, especially in a US Federal District Court.”
Outside the court, hundreds waved Palestinian flags, chanted and held signs calling for a ceasefire in Gaza after painting nearly an entire block with the messages: “Biden complicit in genocide” and “No bombs for Israel”.
The US-based Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed the suit in November on behalf of the plaintiffs Defence for Children Palestine and Al-Haq organisation. The suit names three defendants: Mr Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin.
The hearing began hours after the International Court of Justice, the UN's highest court, ruled in a case brought by South Africa that claims of Israel committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza are “plausible”.
It also ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent genocide and allow aid into the coastal enclave.
The Biden administration has said South Africa's case is unfounded.
Lawyers working on the lawsuit in federal court say that the ICJ ruling bolsters their case and argue that Biden administration officials are liable under US and international law to prevent a genocide in Gaza.
They are now waiting for the judge to rule on their motion for a preliminary injunction that would prohibit any further US military or diplomatic support to Israel while the case is being considered.
No date has been set for a decision and it is not clear how long it will take.
“We're hopeful that the court will do the right thing and does everything in its power to stop the genocide,” Diala Shamas, a lawyer for CCR who is representing the plaintiffs, said during a news conference after the hearing.
Mr Biden, who is running for re-election, has been a firm supporter of Israel in its military campaign in Gaza. He bypassed Congress to approve emergency weapons sales to the country and has supported its stated goal of eradicating Hamas, the group that attacked Israel on October 7.
At the UN Security Council, his administration has vetoed all resolutions calling for a ceasefire.
In court, government lawyers brought up the political question doctrine, which holds that some issues are political by definition and not legal and therefore not suitable to be argued in a court of law.
“The judiciary says there might be something that we can see in this case, but we think that it's better reserved for an other branch of government rather than for us to weigh into it,” Noura Erakat, a legal scholar at Rutgers University, explained during a briefing.
“The political question doctrine has been used by the court by federal courts and multiple instances.”
But four months into Israel's war on Gaza, pressure is mounting on world leaders to bring it to an end. More than 26,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed.
The majority of residents have been displaced and face severe shortages of food and water and lack access to medical care.
In Oakland on Friday, Judge Jeffrey White heard more than three hours of testimony from Palestinian Americans, residents of Gaza and experts.
“The testimonies heard by the court are horrific and there are no words to describe them,” Mr White said.
“In 27 years on the bench, this is probably the most difficult case this court has ever had, and one of the most difficult cases legally.”
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
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Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
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Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
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The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
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Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
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18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
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73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
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The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
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The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
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He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
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Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, K.L. Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.
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If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
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Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
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Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
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Name: Abeer Al Bah
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The name blends two words rupee and payment
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The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
