Persistent disagreements between Israel and Hamas on six key points have foiled yet another US push to get a ceasefire deal for Gaza across the line.
Leaving Qatar on Tuesday at the end of his ninth trip to the region since the war began, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the focus must turn to doing everything possible to “get Hamas on board”, after Israel accepted a US “bridging proposal” to close the gaps between the two sides.
Few details have emerged about the so-called bridging proposal, but sources said it was essentially a compromise between US and Israeli positions with little or no input from Qatar and Egypt, the other two countries involved in mediating a truce.
Mr Blinken's contention that Hamas had no grounds to reject the proposal was a misrepresentation of the facts in Israel's favour, according to the sources, with wide gaps remaining between the two sides on everything from the duration of a ceasefire to the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners
1) Duration of ceasefire
Israel agrees to an initial 42-day truce as part of the first phase of the US proposals but it refuses to commit to continuing the truce beyond that, saying Hamas could drag out the talks on a lasting ceasefire proposed for the second phase, thereby preventing Israel from finishing off its military objectives in Gaza. Hamas on the other hand is demanding that the mediators should offer guarantees that the talks will produce a permanent ceasefire that ends the war once and for all.
2) Israeli troop withdrawal
Hamas wants Israel to fully withdraw from Gaza, while Israel insists on maintaining a troop presence to ensure the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas and its allies on southern Israel is not repeated. This includes keeping forces in the narrow strip that runs the entire length of the Egypt-Gaza border to prevent Hamas from smuggling in arms and dual-use material through tunnels. Israel also wants to keep forces along a motorway it has built that separates the enclave's north from its south.
3) Release of hostages
Hamas wants to release a small number of living hostages plus the remains of those who died in captivity during the first phase of the truce deal. Israel wants as many living hostages as possible freed in the first phase, including female soldiers. According to sources, the living hostages it is ready to release in the first phase will be dual US-Israeli nationals. The Palestinian group generally wants to keep the most prized hostages, such as Israeli active service members or officers, until the end, as strong bargaining chips to ensure Israel's compliance with the deal.
4) Release of Palestinian prisoners
Hamas wants the Palestinians released from Israeli prisons in exchange for the hostages to include about 50 high-profile figures and more than 160 others who were released in a prisoner and hostage swap in 2011 but were later rearrested. Besides refusing to free some of the high-profile Palestinians, Israel wants to send others into exile after their release, which Hamas objects to.
5) Return of Gazans to their homes
Hamas wants Palestinians displaced by the war to return to their homes unconditionally, including those who live in northern Gaza. Israel wants to screen the returnees to ensure that no militants slip through back to the north. The majority of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been displaced, often multiple times, since the war began.
6) Postwar administration
Hamas is reportedly willing to step aside for a government of technocrats, drawn from all Palestinian factions, to run Gaza until legislative and presidential elections are held. Although this will end Hamas's control on Gaza that began in 2007 after its fighters expelled Palestinians loyal to the rival, occupied West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, sources say the group is counting on being re-elected. Israel is firmly opposed to the return to power of Hamas under any circumstances.
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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
FULL%20RESULTS
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When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
EVIL%20DEAD%20RISE
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UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
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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
US PGA Championship in numbers
1 Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.
2 To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.
3 Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.
4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.
5 In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.
6 For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.
7 Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.
8 Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.
9 Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.
10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.
11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.
12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.
13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.
14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.
15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.
16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.
17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.
18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 611bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Price: upon application
On sale: now
MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 3
Gayle (23'), Perez (59', 63')
Chelsea 0
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Canada
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Company%20profile
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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
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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