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A Hamas member who killed an Israeli hostage in Gaza acted after receiving news of the death of two of his children in an Israeli strike, the militant group said in a statement on Thursday.
Hamas had announced on Monday that one hostage, who it did not name, was killed and two injured in separate incidents at the hands of their guards, sharing a photo of a body with its statement. It did not specify when the incidents took place and the Israeli military said at the time it could neither refute nor corroborate the claims.
On Thursday, the group said it would make changes to instructions given to those holding hostages, 10 months after abducting about 250 people in the October 7 incursion into southern Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza. More than 1,200 Israelis were killed in that attack.
"The soldier assigned as a guard acted in a retaliatory manner, against instructions, after he received information that his two children were martyred in one of the massacres conducted by the enemy," spokesman of the group's armed wing Abu Ubaida said on Telegram, without specifying what the consequences would be for the guard.
"The incident does not represent our ethics and religious teachings in dealing with prisoners and we will be even more firm with our instructions after the incident was repeated in two cases so far."
More than 100 Israelis and foreign citizens are thought to be held hostage in Gaza but their status is unknown. Hamas has said any harm that comes to captives would be "the fault" of Israel.
Talks on a ceasefire in Gaza began in Doha on Thursday, without the participation of Hamas, which has abstained in protest over new Israeli demands to the US proposal and a refusal to stop its aerial bombardment of Gaza for the duration of any talks.
More than 40,000 Palestinians, 70 per cent of them women and children, have been killed since October 7, the strip's Ministry of Health said on Thursday, after 40 people were killed in air strikes overnight.
At least 92,400 people have been injured in Israeli attacks, the ministry said. At least 630 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and more than 10,000 people have been detained, prisoner rights groups have said.
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Maiden; Dh165,000; (Dirt) 1,200m
7.05pm: Handicap; Dh170,000; (D) 1,200m
7.40pm: Maiden; Dh165,000; (D) 1,900m
8.15pm: Handicap; Dh185,000; (D) 2,000m
8.50pm: Handicap; Dh185,000; (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap; Dh165,000; (D) 2,000m
Results:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 2,410m | Winner: Bin Battuta, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer)
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Al Hayette, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m | Winner: Faatinah, Jim Crowley, David Hayes
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m | Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m | Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Another Batt, Connor Beasley, George Scott
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