Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Hamas is demanding that Israel pause major military actions in Gaza while ceasefire talks are in progress, sources affirmed on Monday, as mediation efforts face uncertainty due to Israel's strike on a school and Hamas's hesitation to rejoin the talks.
Leaders of the US, Qatar and Egypt urged Israel and Hamas to resume Gaza ceasefire talks in Doha or Cairo on Thursday, despite deepening mistrust after the assassination of the group's political leader Ismail Haniyeh and the appointment of hardliner Yahya Sinwar as his successor.
The call, swiftly supported by countries in the region including the UAE and Turkey, came last week amid fears of a full-scale war in the Middle East, as Israel awaits Iran’s retaliation for the killing of Mr Haniyeh on its soil and Hezbollah’s avowed “punishment” for the assassination of its senior military commander Fouad Shukr in Beirut.
The office of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli negotiators would attend the talks "to finalise the details and implement the framework agreement", but later its army struck a school, killing about 100 Palestinians including women and children.
Hamas initially said it was considering the offer to join the talks but then called on mediators to devise a new plan to implement what was already agreed on "instead of pursuing further rounds of negotiations or new proposals".
The Israeli strike, which was condemned by regional and western countries, as well as Hamas's stance, put the new ceasefire talks in doubt as the war continues to ravage the Palestinian territory, with the death toll nearing 40,000 Palestinians.
Sources told The National on Monday that Mr Sinwar, the most-wanted militant in Gaza by Israel, was considering ways to harden Hamas's approach to the negotiations, including staying away from the table while Israel presses on with its relentless military campaign.
“He has informed mediators that it has become untenable for the group to continue negotiating while Israel keeps on massacring Palestinians,” said one source.
The source said Mr Sinwar's consideration of a boycott was mostly motivated by the air attack on the school on Saturday.
“He wants Israel to hold its fire while negotiations are under way and he wants that to be guaranteed by the Americans,” added the source.
Another source, however, held out the possibility that last-minute consultations between Hamas leaders and mediators from Egypt and Qatar could persuade the group to join the latest talks, which are likely to be held in Doha.
US President Joe Biden outlined a three-phase ceasefire proposal in late May. The US, Egypt and Qatar have since been trying without success to broker a ceasefire in Gaza as well as a hostage release deal.
On Sunday, Mr Biden said a ceasefire deal for Gaza was “still possible” and his team was continuing to work to avoid regional escalation.
“The plan I put together, endorsed by the G7, endorsed by the UN Security Council, etc, is still viable,” Mr Biden said in an interview with CBS, his first since he ended his campaign for re-election last month.
“And I'm working literally every single day – and my whole team – to see to it that it doesn't escalate into a regional war. But it easily can.”
The proposal on the table comes in three phases that firstly would comprise “a full and complete ceasefire,” the withdrawal of Israeli forces from “all populated areas of Gaza” and the release of “a number of hostages – including women, the elderly and the wounded – in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners".
The initial phase is expected to last six weeks, during which Israel and Hamas would “negotiate the necessary arrangements” to move to the second phase, which would centre on the “release of all remaining living hostages” in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The final phase would include a “major reconstruction plan for Gaza” and the return of “any final remains of hostages who have been killed” to their families.
Of the 240 hostages taken by Hamas and its allies on October 7, about 100 were released during a truce in late November. Another 111 are believed to be still held in captivity, although the Israeli military says nearly 40 of them may have died.
Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed the war will not end before Hamas's military and governing abilities are dismantled. He also insists Israel will retain a supreme security role in Gaza after the war ends.
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Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
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Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
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National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
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Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
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- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
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Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales
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There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
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- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
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What is an ETF?
An exchange traded fund is a type of investment fund that can be traded quickly and easily, just like stocks and shares. They come with no upfront costs aside from your brokerage's dealing charges and annual fees, which are far lower than on traditional mutual investment funds. Charges are as low as 0.03 per cent on one of the very cheapest (and most popular), Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, with the maximum around 0.75 per cent.
There is no fund manager deciding which stocks and other assets to invest in, instead they passively track their chosen index, country, region or commodity, regardless of whether it goes up or down.
The first ETF was launched as recently as 1993, but the sector boasted $5.78 billion in assets under management at the end of September as inflows hit record highs, according to the latest figures from ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five largest providers BlackRock’s iShares, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisers, Deutsche Bank X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
While the best-known track major indices such as MSCI World, the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, you can also invest in specific countries or regions, large, medium or small companies, government bonds, gold, crude oil, cocoa, water, carbon, cattle, corn futures, currency shifts or even a stock market crash.
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National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
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Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
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