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GAZA Strip, Palestinian Territories — Rescuers in Gaza said on Saturday that Israeli strikes across the Palestinian territory killed at least 26 people, the day after Hamas said peace talks were to resume.

The civil defence agency said a dawn air strike on the home of the Al Ghoula family in Gaza City killed 11 people, seven of them children.

AFP images from the Gaza City area neighbourhood of Shujaiya showed residents combing through smoking rubble. Bodies including those of small children were lined up on the ground, shrouded in white sheets.

Late on Friday Hamas had said indirect negotiations with Israel were to resume in Qatar that same night for a truce and hostage release deal. There has since been no update.

Hamas said talks would "focus on ensuring the agreement leads to a complete cessation of hostilities [and] the withdrawal of occupation forces".

Mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been engaged in months of effort that have failed to end nearly 15 months of war.

A key obstacle to a deal has been Israel's reluctance to agree to a lasting ceasefire.

On Thursday, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had authorised Israeli negotiators to continue talks in Doha.

In December, Qatar expressed optimism that "momentum" was returning to the talks following the US election of Donald Trump, who takes office in 16 days.

But Hamas and Israel then accused each other of setting new conditions and obstacles.

On January 1, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz warned of even more intense retaliatory strikes if rocket fire continued from Gaza and militants did not release hostages they still hold.

Such rocket launches had become rare but have intensified since late December as Israel presses a three-month offensive in the north of the territory.

Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said the Ghoula home in Gaza City "was completely destroyed".

"It was a two-storey building and several people are still under the rubble," he said, adding Israeli drones had "also fired on ambulance staff".

Contacted by AFP, the Israeli army did not immediately comment on the strike.

 'Everything was shaking'

"A huge explosion woke us up. Everything was shaking," said neighbour Ahmed Mussa.

"It was home to children, women. There wasn't anyone wanted or who posed a threat."

Elsewhere, the civil defence agency said an Israeli strike killed five security officers tasked with accompanying aid convoys as they drove through the southern city of Khan Yunis.

Bassal accused Israel of having "deliberately targeted" them to "affect the humanitarian supply chain and increase the suffering" of the population.

The army has not yet responded to the accusation.

United Nations rights experts said on Monday that the north Gaza "siege" appears to be part of an effort "to permanently displace the local population as a precursor to Gaza's annexation".

Rescuers said strikes elsewhere in Gaza killed 10 other people, including a child and two other members of the same family, when their house was bombed in Khan Yunis.

AFP images showed Palestine Red Crescent paramedics in Gaza City moving the body of one of their colleagues, his green jacket laid over the blanket that covered his corpse.

The health ministry in Gaza said a total of 136 people had been killed over the previous 48 hours.

Israel's military campaign has killed at least 45,717 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to figures from the Gaza health ministry which the United Nations considers reliable.

RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories — The Palestinian Authority has ordered the suspension of broadcasts by Qatar-based Al Jazeera and on Thursday accused it of incitement, which the news channel compared to Israeli practices.

Al Jazeera is already banned from broadcasting from Israel amid a long-running feud with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

In September, armed and masked Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah also raided the Al Jazeera office, saying it was "used to incite terror".

The military issued an initial 45-day closure order, prompting the Palestinian foreign ministry at the time to condemn "a flagrant violation" of press freedom.

On Thursday, the PA insisted its own suspension measure was "temporary", adding its decision followed a complaint from the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate concerning the network's coverage.

"These measures shall be applied until Al Jazeera chooses to act in accordance with basic media ethics, including its duty to prevent deliberate disinformation, ban the glorification of violence, and end the incitement to armed mutiny," the PA said.

The syndicate, which represents about 3,000 Palestinian journalists, said several had filed complaints against Al Jazeera for "biased media coverage on its platforms, including incitement, misleading reports, and content that stirs internal discord".

The PA's decision includes "temporarily freezing the work of all journalists, employees, crews and affiliated channels until their legal status is rectified due to Al Jazeera's violations of the laws and regulations in force in Palestine", the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported late Wednesday.

The channel aired images of what appeared to be Palestinian security officers entering the network's office in Ramallah and handing over the suspension orders.

Al Jazeera condemned the decision, saying it "aligns with Israeli occupation practices targeting its media teams".

It accused the PA, which has partial administrative control in the West Bank, of "attempting to deter Al Jazeera from covering escalating events in the occupied Palestinian territories" including in Jenin and its refugee camp.

The PA's security forces have been engaged in weeks of deadly clashes with armed militants in Jenin, in the northern West Bank.

Tensions over coverage 

Hamas, rivals of Fateh which dominates the PA, condemned the decision to ban the network.

"This decision aligns with a series of recent arbitrary actions taken by the Authority to curtail public rights and freedoms, and to reinforce its security grip on the Palestinian people," Hamas said in a statement.

"We call on the Palestinian Authority to immediately reverse this decision ... It is crucial to ensure the continuation of media coverage that exposes the occupation and supports the steadfastness of our people."

Islamic Jihad, allied with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, also criticised the decision.

"We condemn the authority's decision to close Al Jazeera's office in Palestine when our people and our cause are in dire need to convey their suffering to the world," the group said in a statement.

Tensions between the network and the Fateh movement of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas have risen in recent weeks following the channel's coverage of the clashes in Jenin.

In late December, the channel condemned what it said was an "incitement campaign" by Fateh against the network in some areas of the occupied West Bank.

"This campaign follows the network's coverage of clashes between Palestinian security forces and resistance fighters in Jenin," it said in a statement at the time.

The security forces of the PA have been engaged in deadly clashes with gunmen since early December, triggered by the arrests of several fighters.

They are fighting members of the Jenin Battalion, most of whom are affiliated with either Islamic Jihad or Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war.

Fateh's rivals have accused PA forces of aiding Israel.

Al Jazeera continues to work in Gaza, where Hamas seized control in 2007.

The violence in Jenin refugee camp, a stronghold of armed groups and a frequent target of Israeli military raids, has killed 11 people including PA security personnel, militants and civilians.

GENEVA — UN experts on Thursday decried Israel's raid on an embattled hospital in northern Gaza, demanding an end to the "blatant assault" on health rights in the besieged Palestinian territory.

Reiterating charges that Israel is committing "genocide" in Gaza -- something the Israeli government strongly denies -- two independent United Nations rights experts said they were "horrified" by the raid last Friday on Kamal Adwan, northern Gaza's last functioning major hospital.

"For well over a year into the genocide, Israel's blatant assault on the right to health in Gaza and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory is plumbing new depths of impunity," the experts said in a statement.

"We are horrified and concerned by reports from northern Gaza."

Israel's military, which did not offer an immediate response to the comments, has said it killed more than 20 suspected militants and detained more than 240, including the hospital's director, Hossam Abu Safiyeh, describing him as a suspected Hamas militant.

Francesca Albanese, the outspoken and controversial independent UN special rapporteur on the rights situation in the Palestinian territories, and Tlaleng Mofokeng, special rapporteur on the right to health, said they were "gravely concerned" at Safiyeh's detention and demanded his "immediate release".

"Yet, another doctor to be harassed, kidnapped and arbitrarily detained by the occupation forces, in his case for defying evacuation orders to leave his patients and colleagues behind," they said.

"This is part of a pattern by Israel to continuously bombard, destroy and fully annihilate the realisation of the right to health in Gaza."

UN special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but who do not speak on behalf of the world body.

The experts also highlighted "disturbing reports" that Israeli forces allegedly carried out extrajudicial executions of some people near the hospitals, including a Palestinian man reportedly holding a white flag.

They pointed to figures provided by the health ministry in Hamas-led Gaza indicating that at least 1,057 Palestinian health and medical professionals have been killed since the war erupted following the Palestinian group's October 7, 2023 attack inside Israel.

"Under occupation, intentional assaults on healthcare facilities have the potential to expose individuals to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment and may constitute a war crime," the experts said.

"In Gaza, this is clearly part of a well-established pattern of genocide, for which Israeli leaders will have to be held accountable."

RIYADh, Saudi Arabia — Ministers from Syria's transitional government held talks in Saudi Arabia on Thursday on their first foreign visit since they toppled longtime ruler Bashar Assad last month.

"Through this first visit in the history of free Syria, we aspire to open a new, bright page in Syrian-Saudi relations that befits the long shared history between the two countries," interim Foreign Minister Assaad Al Shibani posted on social media after arriving in Riyadh late on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia severed ties with Assad's government in 2012 and backed Syrian rebels seeking to overthrow him early in the country's civil war.

But last year, Riyadh restored ties with Assad's government and was instrumental in Syria's return to the Arab League, ending its regional isolation.

Now Syria's new leadership is eager for Saudi investment to help rebuild the country's infrastructure, which has been shattered by more than a decade of war.

Shibani was accompanied by Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and General Intelligence Service chief Anas Khattab, and the three men held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan and Defence Minister Prince Khalid Bin Salman, Saudi state television reported.

Last month, a Saudi delegation met Syria's new leader Ahmed Al Sharaa in Damascus, a source close to the Saudi government told AFP at the time.

Sharaa heads the Islamist Hayat Tahrir Al Sham group that led the rebel offensive that ousted Assad on December 8.

Last week, in an interview with Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television, Sharaa said Saudi Arabia "will certainly have a large role in Syria's future", pointing to "a big investment opportunity for all neighbouring countries".

TEHRAN — Iran held rallies in its major cities on Thursday to mark the fifth anniversary of the assassination of Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike in neighbouring Iraq.

Demonstrators in Tehran chanted "Down with America" and "Down with Israel" as they held up photographs of the slain general.

Commemorations were also held in other cities, including Soleimani's hometown Kerman, state television images showed.

Soleimani was seen as the key sponsor of the so-called "axis of resistance", an alliance of Middle East militant groups that Iran supported to counter Israel and its US ally but which suffered heavy blows last year.

He was killed in a US drone strike at Baghdad airport on January 3, 2020 on orders from then-president Donald Trump, who is about to return to office for a second term.

Soleimani was a popular figure in Iran and foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei called him "commander of hearts" in a post on social media platform X.

"Great commanders are not conquerors of known territories in geography, they are conquerors of hearts, and that is why their conquests remain forever," Baqaei said.

The "axis of resistance" fostered by Soleimani took heavy blows during 2024.

The rule of the Assad clan in Syria, Iran allies for nearly 45 years, collapsed in the face of a lightning offensive by Islamist-led rebels, while both Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah suffered heavy losses at the hands of the Israeli military.

A memorial service for Soleimani in Kerman in January 2024 was the scene of Iran's deadliest attack since 1978. Twin bombs claimed by the Daesh  group killed more than 90 people and wounded hundreds.

SANAA — Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels said Tuesday that they had fired two missiles at Israel, hours after the Israeli military said it had intercepted a projectile launched from the country.

"The first [attack] targeted Ben Gurion Airport" in Tel Aviv, and the second was fired at a power station south of Jerusalem, a Huthi military statement said.

The rebels also said they had attacked the American aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. There was no immediate comment from the US military.

Late on Monday, the Israeli military said it had shot down a missile launched from Yemen before it crossed into Israeli territory.

The Huthis, who control much of war-torn Yemen, have been firing missiles and drones at Israel, and at ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Last week, Israeli fighter jets carried out retaliatory strikes that killed four people at Sanaa international airport, where the World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was waiting for a flight.

DAMASCUS — About half of school-age children in Syria are missing out on education after nearly 14 years of civil war, Save the Children told AFP on Monday, calling for "immediate action".

The overwhelming majority of Syrian children are also in need of immediate humanitarian assistance including food, the charity said, with at least half of them requiring psychological help to overcome war trauma.

"Around 3.7 million children are out of school and they require immediate action to reintegrate them in school," Rasha Muhrez, the charity's Syria director, told AFP in an interview from the capital Damascus, adding "this is more than half of the children at school age".

While Syrians have endured more than a decade of conflict, the rapid rebel offensive that toppled president Bashar al-Assad on December 8 caused further disruption, with the UN reporting more than 700,000 people newly displaced.

"Some of the schools were used as shelters again due to the new wave of displaced people," Muhrez told AFP.

The war, which began in 2011 after Assad's brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters, has devastated Syria's economy and public infrastructure leaving many children vulnerable.

Muhrez said "about 7.5 million children are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance".

"We need to make sure the children can come back to education, to make sure that they have access again to health, to food and that they are protected," Muhrez said.

"Children were deprived of their basic rights including access to education, to healthcare, to protection, to shelter," by the civil war, but also natural disasters and economic crises, she said.

 'Trauma' 

Syria's war spiralled rapidly from 2011 into a major civil conflict that has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced millions.

More than one in four Syrians now live in extreme poverty according to the World Bank, with the deadly February 2023 earthquake bringing more misery.

Many children who grew up during the war have been traumatised by the violence, said Muhrez.

"This had a huge impact, a huge traumatic impact on them, for various reasons, for losses: a parent, a sibling, a friend, a house," she said.

According to Save the Children, around 6.4 million children are in need of psychological help.

Muhrez also warned that "continued coercive measures and sanctions on Syria have the largest impact on the Syrian people themselves".

Syria has been under strict Western sanctions aimed at Assad's government, including from the United States and European Union, since early in the war.

On Sunday, Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa expressed hope that the incoming administration of US President-elect Donald Trump would lift sanctions.

"It's very difficult for us to continue responding to the needs and to reach people in need with limited resources with these restrictive measures," she said.

DUBAI — The iconic annual Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is accelerating the city’s biggest-ever celebrations into full gear with the highly anticipated launch of the first-ever DSF Auto Season, celebrating automotive culture in grand style from 1 January to 12 January 2025. Providing residents and visitors the chance to experience the best of Dubai’s perfect weather for the season during DSF’s monumental 30th-anniversary edition, citywide adrenaline-fuelled adventures will feature an action-packed calendar of all things automotive - from showcases of the latest craftsmanship to thrilling competitions, exclusive experiences, parades, and engaging meetups to spotlight the world of cars, bikes, speed, and cutting-edge technology.

Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE),  DSF Auto Season will cater to car enthusiasts, families, and adventurers alike with everything from classic car showcases to futuristic concepts, combining breathtaking displays with thrilling experiences. 

Here’s what to expect:

CITYWIDE EVENTS

The Dubai Hills Mall Car Showcase from 1 to 12 January will offer visitors a chance to explore over 90 unique vehicles, ranging from timeless classics to cutting-edge models, displayed in distinct, visually engaging zones. The experience includes a thrilling Gaming Truck Activation with VR automotive games, exclusive giveaways, and a grand prize of a luxury car.

From 3 to 5 January, Circuit De Meydan x DSF Auto Season will deliver a blend of automotive and cycling excitement. The event will feature 20 custom-modified cars by PowerDose alongside bespoke bicycles by Bike On. Guests can witness the exclusive reveal of two Mercedes models, compete in VR gaming, and enjoy competitions for the fastest lap and best-looking bicycle, all set against a backdrop of innovation and adrenaline.

At The Drift Home x DSF Auto Season from 9 to 12 January, Dubai Festival City Mall will host a high-octane drifting competition. For just AED 30, attendees will have the opportunity to experience thrilling rides alongside professional drivers or even test their skills with expert guidance. Visitors will have the chance to experience two adrenaline pumping laps with one of the 50 internationally certified drift drivers for AED 200 per person and learn to drift with a professional trainer of up to 20 minutes for AED 500. Showcasing over 20,000 horsepower and featuring internationally certified drift drivers, this event promises electrifying competitions and action-packed performances across its four-day schedule.

The Mirdif Motor Show will take place on 10 and 11 January at Mirdif City Centre, featuring over 700 vehicles and a variety of activities for all ages. This grand exhibition will be a key highlight of the DSF Auto Season, offering an exciting showcase of power, performance, and design.

The Michelin 24H Dubai will take place on 11 and 12 January at the Dubai Autodrome as part of the prestigious Hankook 24H Series. Fans will witness world-class endurance racing with high-performance cars and elite teams. Highlights include nighttime racing, access to the Fan Zone, garage tours for VIP ticket holders, and the awards ceremony celebrating the winners of both the DSF Auto Season and the 24-hour race.

On 12 January, the season will conclude with the WEB3 Auction at the Dubai Design District MOTB Stage. This exclusive event will showcase rare automobiles and unique automotive NFTs, offering collectors a thrilling opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind items worth over AED 50 million.

PARADES

DSF Auto Season will also feature a series of captivating parades to join and watch out for. The Yalla Dubai x DSF Auto Season on 2 January, starting at Super Car Majlis (SCM), Oman and ending at Hatta Wadi Club, will celebrate the spirit of unity and adventure between the two nations. This stunning convoy of vehicles will journey across a scenic route, offering a symbolic connection between Oman and the UAE. 

The PowerDose Parade will take place on 3 January from 3pm to 4pm, starting at Power Dose in Nad Al Hammar and culminating at DXBike. Featuring a unique line-up of over 20 custom-designed cars valued at more than AED 20 million, the parade will offer a rare opportunity to witness automotive innovation and craftsmanship. At the end point, visitors can interact with the car owners and admire these exceptional vehicles, many of which will be seen in public for the first time. 

The Super Cars Parade, kicking off on 4 January, will showcase an awe-inspiring lineup of the world’s most luxurious and high-performance vehicles. Beginning and ending at Dubai Hills Mall, this spectacular procession will highlight the elegance and power of iconic supercars. Enthusiasts will marvel at the sleek designs and roaring engines as the parade transforms the streets into a dynamic display of automotive excellence. 

The Dubai Ducati Ride 2025 (DDR25) scheduled for 4 January will start at the Wheels of Arabia Ducati Showroom and end at Reform Social & Grill, bringing Ducati riders a city tour featuring Dubai’s iconic landmarks and stunning skylines. At the end point, participants will display their bikes for the public while enjoying Italian food such as pizzas and gelato, as well as Ducati-themed movies and slideshows. The event will feature giveaways, merchandise, and a lucky draw, along with a kid’s corner, creating a family-friendly atmosphere for all attendees. 

On 8 January, the 24H Dubai Parade will showcase the elite cars participating in the 24H endurance race. Starting and ending at the Dubai Autodrome, the parade will offer fans an up-close experience with race teams, drivers, and high-performance vehicles. Visitors can explore the Fan Zone, enjoy automotive-themed activations, and attend the race to witness incredible driving, pit stops, and team strategies. VIP ticket holders will have the exclusive opportunity to tour the garages and interact with the teams, making this a must-see event for motorsport enthusiasts. 

The Mirdif Motor Show Parade, starting and ending at Mirdif City Centre on 10 January, will be part of Dubai’s largest auto exhibition. Featuring over 700 vehicles, including trucks, classic cars, supercars, motorbikes, and police cars, the parade will make its way to the rooftop parking lot, where the main showcase will take place. Family-friendly activities such as remote-control car races, face painting, and safety workshops will ensure a fun-filled day for visitors of all ages.

CAFÉ POP-UPS

Adding to the excitement of DSF Auto Season, a series of unique activations and meet-ups will take place at citywide locations, combining automotive flair with dining, entertainment, and community engagement. On 3 January, the Defenders Meet-Up will bring together enthusiasts for a one-of-a-kind gathering in the serene desert landscapes of Al Marmoom, offering a unique opportunity to connect over their shared passion for this iconic vehicle. Meanwhile, Cars & Cookies will roll into Flat12 Café at Port Rashid on 5 January, inviting the car community to showcase their wheels and indulge in the café’s offerings for a day of camaraderie and automotive pride.

The Broncos Meet-Up will take place on 9 January, also at Al Marmoom, where fans of the classic vehicle will unite in a picturesque desert setting for another unforgettable gathering. On 10 January, Block 92 at Jumeirah Sunset Mall will offer visitors a chance to savour premium coffee while entering a draw to win an exclusive Bugatti experience, complete with a personal chauffeur for a day.

Adding another thrilling element, the Bikers Café Meet-Up on 4 January at Jumeirah Street will feature the latest lineup of motorcycles from top manufacturers and dealerships. Attendees can explore a curated selection of apparel and merchandise while connecting with like-minded enthusiasts in a vibrant atmosphere that celebrates the passion for motorcycles and the joy of shared experiences.

Visitors can navigate through the endless excitement of this year’s festival through the all-new digital DSF Map - an interactive online guide to explore all of the season’s iconic and only-in-Dubai experiences, festival favourites, ever-popular signature events, and brand-new additions waiting to be discovered across the city. 

UAE residents can get rewarded for keeping up to date on all the DSF news on the Dubai Shopping Festival website. The DSF 30th anniversary competition, running until 12 January, brings a thrilling chance to win an exciting prize worth a whopping AED 30,000 by simply registering details on the DSF website.