Dog reunites with family after disappearing for 18 months in Gaza
Jerusalem, April 17: Rachel Dancyg never thought she would see her dog again after it disappeared in the Hamas attack that sparked the ongoing war with Israel.
Her ex-husband and brother were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel and killed. She thought her beloved pet had suffered the same fate. So when a soldier called the family on Tuesday night, telling them that Billie had been found alive in Gaza, it was hard to believe.
“It’s a miracle,” Dancyg told The Associated Press on Wednesday, hours after being reunited with her now 3 1/2-year old Cavalier King Charles spaniel. “It doesn’t make sense … People didn’t survive. How did she?” The reunion brought a rare touch of joy in Israel after 18 months of devastating war.
The Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack killed some 1,200 people and resulted in more than 250 others being kidnapped. Nearly 60 hostages remain in Gaza, more than half of whom are believed to be dead.
An Israeli offensive launched after the attack has killed more than 51,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to local health authorities, and reduced large parts of Gaza to rubble. U.S.-led efforts to broker a ceasefire and bring home remaining hostages appear to be at a standstill.
Nir Oz was one of the hardest hit communities, with nearly a quarter of the approximately 400 residents killed or captured in the 2023 attack. For Israelis, it stands out as the embodiment of their country’s vulnerability that day. Soldiers took hours to respond. Some families have said they saw Hamas militants killing or kidnapping animals.
It’s unclear how Billie ended up in Gaza. When Hamas entered Dancyg’s home, she hid in the safe room with her family for eight hours, holding the door shut. But she fled so quickly there was no time to find the dog. For months, the community looked everywhere for Billie, but there was no trace of her. (AP)
King Charles shares Easter message of ‘hope and love’ amid Cancer treatment
Washington, April 17: King Charles, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, issued a special Easter statement on Thursday before he and his wife, Queen Camilla, attended a traditional royal event.
He emphasised that the work humanitarians do around the world knows no boundaries, irrespective of religion, background, or faith, reported People. “There are three virtues that the world still needs faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love,” Charles wrote, spreading the core message of love in all religions.
“One of the puzzles of our humanity is how we are capable of both great cruelty and great kindness,” he added.
He shared that “scenes that daily come before our eyes — at one moment, terrible images of human suffering and, in another, heroic acts in war-torn countries where humanitarians of every kind risk their own lives to protect the lives of others,” as per the outlet.
Charles added that he “felt a profound sense of admiration for their resilience, courage and compassion” for people who work in humanitarian fields, reported People. (ANI)
Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates to get $1.3 billion renovation
Dubai, April 17: The operator of Dubai’s sprawling Mall of the Emirates, home to an indoor ski slope in the desert sheikhdom, announced plans Wednesday for a $1.3 billion renovation at the mall. The Dubai-based firm Majid Al Futtaim said the project would turn the mall “into a next-generation lifestyle destination.” It said another 20,000 square meters of additional space would be added to bring in another 100 stores to the mall, which already has hundreds of shops and restaurants. The mall saw over 40 million visitors in 2024.
The mall, which sits along the 12-lane Sheikh Zayed Road, long has been a landmark in the city, alongside its other major shopping destination, Dubai Mall. (AP)