Israel has rejected the prospect of mediation between the country and Hamas as “it is a time of war", an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman told The National as its latest conflict with the armed Palestinian group entered a third day.
Lior Haiat said on Monday that "we're not talking about mediation. There are still terrorists in Israeli territory".
“This is the time to defend ourselves and to retaliate strongly so we can destroy the Hamas terrorist group and its capabilities and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip," he said.
Qatar, an ally of Hamas, has been in talks since Sunday evening to try to secure an agreement that would lead to the release of Israeli women and children held by the militant group in Gaza since Saturday.
Under the potential deal, 36 Palestinian women and children would be released from Israeli prisons in exchange, sources from Hamas and Qatar told The National on Monday.
Egypt, which has acted as mediator between Israel and Hamas in past conflicts, was also in close contact with both sides as it sought to prevent further escalation, Egyptian security sources said.
The sources told The National that over the past 24 hours, Cairo has held talks with senior EU and US officials, as well as regional powers including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Qatar.
Hamas representative Osama Hamdan told The National that talks had begun, but said it was too early for a deal.
“I think we are not talking about one country leading the efforts on mediation between Hamas and Israel, but I can say that talks have indeed begun since yesterday,” said Mr Hamdan, the group's senior official in Lebanon and a member of its political office.
Hamas's military wing, Al Qassam Brigades, on Saturday launched “Operation Al Aqsa Flood”, which included rocket fire on Israel.
The group's fighters also entered southern Israel and took dozens of hostages.
Mr Haiat said Israeli forces were continuing to fight against at least 70 Hamas militants inside its territory, close to the border with Gaza.
The death toll from the Hamas attack climbed to 800 as of Monday evening, Israel's Kan TV reported.
Israel has launched retaliatory strikes, which have killed more than 500 people in Gaza since Saturday.
Arab League foreign ministers are to meet on Wednesday to discuss "Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip", the bloc announced.
The extraordinary meeting in Cairo will seek to find "avenues of political action at the Arab and international level", as Israel continues to attack targets in Gaza following Saturday's attack, Arab League deputy chief Hossam Zaki said in a statement.
Militants from Al Qassam Brigades and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group have claimed to be holding 100 hostages from Israel.
Hamas said Israeli air strikes killed four hostages on Monday.
Israel has said children and a Holocaust survivor who uses a wheelchair were among those taken hostage by Hamas.
“Hamas is responsible for the lives and the well-being of each and every hostage they hold. If any of those hostages will be harmed, there will be a heavy price Hamas will have to pay,” Mr Haiat said.
Both sides on Monday appeared adamant they would press on with their assaults, casting doubt the possibility of an early breakthrough in mediation efforts.
“We have had experience with the occupiers’ wars on Gaza in 2008 and 2014, so for the armed wing of Hamas, Al Qassam Brigades, to be so victorious over the past days gives many in Gaza the will to go on fighting until the end,” Mr Hamdan said.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
HWJN
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Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
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Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
Avengers: Endgame
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin
4/5 stars
UAE SQUAD
UAE team
1. Chris Jones-Griffiths 2. Gio Fourie 3. Craig Nutt 4. Daniel Perry 5. Isaac Porter 6. Matt Mills 7. Hamish Anderson 8. Jaen Botes 9. Barry Dwyer 10. Luke Stevenson (captain) 11. Sean Carey 12. Andrew Powell 13. Saki Naisau 14. Thinus Steyn 15. Matt Richards
Replacements
16. Lukas Waddington 17. Murray Reason 18. Ahmed Moosa 19. Stephen Ferguson 20. Sean Stevens 21. Ed Armitage 22. Kini Natuna 23. Majid Al Balooshi
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Red Sparrow
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
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