Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
European leaders plan to discuss on Wednesday how to impose more sanctions on Iran after its weekend drone and missile attack against Israel, but legal hurdles remain despite voices calling to list the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
A number of leaders have called for expanding sanctions against Iran while some have also responded positively to a renewed Israeli push to sanction the IRGC.
But senior officials have said this cannot be done without a court decision in an EU country linking the IRGC to terrorist activities.
"My position is that the IRGC should be put on a sanction list and I would be interested to see what the position is of other countries on that topic," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told reporters as he arrived at a meeting of the EU's 27 leaders in Brussels.
Ensuring the listing was "solid enough" from a legal point of view "might be difficult," said Mr De Croo, responding to a question from The National.
"But it’s not because it’s difficult that we should not try to do it."
Belgium currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU council.
"We have to give a very clear signal that these types of attacks that we have seen this weekend are not acceptable and they cannot just go unpunished without any reaction from our side," said Mr De Croo.
Before the meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron said that sanctions on Iran needed to be "adjusted".
"We are in favour of sanctions that can also target all those who help manufacture drones and missiles that were used in the attacks last Saturday and Sunday," Mr Macron said.
It is likely that EU leaders will agree to expand existing sanctions on Iran for providing drones to Russia and to allies in the Middle East for use against Israel.
"The idea is to expand the existing Iran-Russia related drone [sanctions] regime," the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Tuesday.
Those who provide Iran with equipment to build drones are already under sanctions.
A draft statement seen by Reuters to be issued after Wednesday's meeting said that: "The EU is ready to take further restrictive measures against Iran, notably in relation to unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles."
Italy's Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, said before G7 talks on the island of Capri that "sanctions should be imposed on all those who give drones, weapons and missiles to those who attack Israel and those who attack ships in the Red Sea".
Israel has promised to retaliate to Iran's weekend attack, which was prompted by Israel bombing its consulate in Damascus, killing seven officials.
EU leaders called for restraint, fearing that the retaliations will lead to an all-out regional war as the death toll in Gaza inches close to 35,000 since October.
"For us, it is important that this moment is now also used for further de-escalation and that Israel ... does not respond with a massive attack of its own," German chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters in Brussels.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said that he hoped that leaders would be able to find a "common voice" in their response to the escalating conflict.
"Ireland certainly remains ready to engage in discussions on how to increase sanctions on Iran," Mr Harris said.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
