Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
A hurriedly convened meeting of representatives from Israel, the US, Egypt and Qatar has rescued the Gaza truce from unravelling, one of several fraught moments amid talks to sustain the pause in fighting.
It comes after Hamas complained about alleged violations by Israel, including an unauthorised drone flight and an attempt to spy on its positions, officials said.
Egyptian authorities said the meeting in Ramallah on Saturday had brought together senior intelligence operatives from the countries involved, in addition to diplomats. The Palestinian Authority was not represented although Ramallah is its seat of power, they added.
The temporary truce appeared to be back on track on Sunday after the release of a second group of Hamas-held hostages and that of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. The swap followed an hours-long delay that underscored the fragility of the truce.
Israel on Sunday announced the list of Palestinians scheduled for release on the third of the truce's four days that began on Friday.
The truce was the first significant pause in seven weeks of war in which a deadly rampage by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7 left 1,200 Israelis killed and triggered a devastating bombing campaign by Israel followed by a ground offensive that has killed more than 14,500 Palestinians.
The fighting has also displaced two thirds of Gaza's 2.3 million residents – about 1.7 million people – and created a massive humanitarian crisis in the densely populated enclave, wiping out large swathes of built-up areas.
Under the truce brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the US, Hamas is to release in batches at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian women and minors held in Israeli jails.
Israel has said the truce can be extended by an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed but has vowed to resume its offensive once it ends. The Egyptian officials, for their part, said efforts were under way to persuade Hamas and Israel to extend the truce by at least two days.
The officials, who are briefed in depth about the negotiations, said Saturday's delay was caused in part by Hamas's insistence that some of the aid reaching the enclave from Egypt under the deal should be sent to northern Gaza, from which Israel forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to leave and move south.
Israel eventually dropped its objection and allowed the aid to reach the north, an area Israel says is home to a large segment of Hamas's military capabilities and personnel.
Another issue that caused the delay, according to the officials, was Hamas's claim that Israel was trying to take advantage of the release of hostages to gather intelligence on the group's hideouts, including a network of tunnels it uses to attack its forces.
The officials, who spoke to The National on condition of anonymity, declined to give details of Hamas's allegation.
Another obstacle was a claim by Hamas that Israel had breached the terms of the temporary truce when it sent a drone flying over the southern part of Gaza on Saturday.
Hamas was also unhappy about a surge in violence in the occupied West Bank, where about 200 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops or illegal settlers since October 7, according to UN figures.
“Such issues, though serious, will not derail the agreement,” said one of the officials. “The deal remains on track and will stay the course.”
Hamas officials also complained to Egypt about Israel's treatment of the Palestinian women and children who have been released as part of the deal, claiming they were denied food and medication on their final day in prison, which they spent in isolation.
Israel was also forcing prisoners to sign written statements disavowing Hamas and other armed groups and accepting they would face imprisonment if found to support them after their release, said the Egyptian officials.
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Respawn%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Electronic%20Arts%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PC%2C%20Playstation%205%2C%20Xbox%20Series%20X%20and%20S%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Barbie
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Blue%20Beetle
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UJDA CHAMAN
Produced: Panorama Studios International
Directed: Abhishek Pathak
Cast: Sunny Singh, Maanvi Gagroo, Grusha Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla
Rating: 3.5 /5 stars
MATCH INFO
England 241-3 (20 ovs)
Malan 130 no, Morgan 91
New Zealand 165 all out (16.5ovs)
Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47
England win by 76 runs
Series level at 2-2
MATCH INFO
Norwich 0
Watford 2 (Deulofeu 2', Gray 52')
Red card: Christian Kabasele (WatforD)
ABU DHABI CARD
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions; Dh90,000; 2,200m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 1,400m
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden; Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige; Dh100,000; 1,600m
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige; Dh125,000; 1,600m
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1; Dh5,000,000; 1,600m
HIV on the rise in the region
A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.
New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.
Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.
Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.
Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.
Emirates exiles
Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.
Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.
Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.
Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.
DUBAI WORLD CUP CARNIVAL CARD
6.30pm Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.05pm UAE 1000 Guineas Listed $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.40pm Dubai Dash Listed $175,000 (T) 1,000m
8.15pm Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions $100,000 (D) 1.900m
8.50pm Al Fahidi Fort Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,400m
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (D) 2,000m
The National selections
6.30pm: Gifts Of Gold
7.05pm Final Song
7.40pm Equilateral
8.15pm Dark Of Night
8.50pm Mythical Magic
9.25pm Franz Kafka
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
MATCH INFO
Jersey 147 (20 overs)
UAE 112 (19.2 overs)
Jersey win by 35 runs
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
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The%20specs
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The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
RoboCop%3A%20Rogue%20City
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