Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Hamas will not agree to any “concessions” in exchange for a ceasefire deal and is calling on its regional allies to “widen” the confrontation with Israel, an official said on Thursday.
Statements made by Mahmoud Taha, Hamas’s head of media relations in Beirut, were issued after sources close to the ceasefire negotiations reported that talks scheduled to begin in Cairo on Thursday have been postponed until next week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “will not get anything from the resistance, and Hamas will not agree to any additional concessions”, Mr Taha told The National.
“Hamas supports widening the confrontation with Israel and for allies to join the ongoing battles, including the Fatah movement,” added the official.
Persistent disagreements between Israel and Hamas on key points have foiled yet another US push to get a ceasefire deal for Gaza across the line.
Hamas accuses Mr Netanyahu of adding new conditions to an already agreed-upon deal and has largely dismissed talks held in Doha this week.
Fears that the war could escalate into a wider conflict have gripped the Middle East since the late-July assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut. Iran and the militant group have vowed to avenge their deaths.
Iran-backed armed factions in the Middle East have said that they would halt attacks against Israeli targets if a ceasefire in Gaza is reached.
“Hamas has not and will not mourn any negotiations and is always open to any solution that ends the war, but it knows that there will be nothing new in the negotiation round in Cairo, just as nothing new happened in Doha,” stressed Mr Taha.
Meanwhile, senior Israeli officials arrived in Cairo on Thursday evening with a new proposal to end Egypt and Israel's dispute over the 12-kilometre Salah Al Din strip, also known as the Philadelphi Corridor, sources familiar with the talks told The National.
Mossad's Director David Barnea, Ronen Bar of the Shin Bet and senior Israeli military officials were joined by White House Co-ordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk to discuss security measures on the land, which runs along Egypt's border with Gaza.
The sources said Egypt was most likely to reject the latest Israeli offer and stick to its demand that Israel fully pulls out from the are as well as the Palestinian side of its land crossing with Gaza as soon as a Hamas-Israel deal is struck.
Israel captured Salah Al Din and the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing in May.
Hamas' call to widen the conflict came as the UN Security Council was warned the war could spill over into the occupied West Bank amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation.
“While the eyes of the international community are focused on Gaza, the occupied West Bank is a tinderbox of violence and tension,” UN special co-ordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland told the meeting in New York.
“Israeli security forces continue to carry out large-scale operations … including targeting Hamas, PIJ [Palestinian Islamic Jihad] and other armed groups in densely populated refugee camps and Palestinian urban centres.”
The US also urged the security council to speak with “one voice” to pressure Hamas to agree to the bridging proposal hashed out in Qatar last week.
“As members of this council, we must speak with one voice and we must use our leverage to press Hamas to accept the bridging proposal, which includes massive and immediate benefits for the Palestinians in Gaza and incorporates a number of Hamas's earlier demands,” said US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Israel was also accused of carrying out water-related violence against the Palestinians on Thursday, with the California-based think tank Pacific Insitute finding it committed a quarter of all global attacks on water supply in 2023.
The acts tracked by the institute included the Israeli military and settlers contaminating or destroying wells and pumps on 90 occasions last year.
On Thursday, Israeli authorities said they had arrested four Israelis on suspicion of rampaging through a West Bank Village on August 15. One Palestinian was killed and more injured as a group of Israelis set cars and homes alight and damaged water tankers over the space of two hours.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attacks at the time, which have grown in number since the start of the war.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
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'Joker'
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix
Rating: Five out of five stars
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INDIA SQUAD
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The five pillars of Islam
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2.
3.
4.
5.
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
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HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
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BELGIUM%20SQUAD
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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The%C2%A0specs%20
Ad Astra
Director: James Gray
Stars: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones
Five out of five stars
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National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
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Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Specs
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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Tomorrow 2021
Jurassic%20Park
Ramy%3A%20Season%203%2C%20Episode%201
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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The%20specs
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Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
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- Con Coughlin: Choice of the British people will be vindicated
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TICKETS
For tickets for the two-day Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) event, entitled Dubai Invasion 2019, on September 27 and 28 go to www.meraticket.com.
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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- Con Coughlin: Choice of the British people will be vindicated
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• UAE's monumental and risky Mars Mission to inspire future generations, says minister
• Could the UAE drive India's economy?
• News has a bright future and the UAE is at the heart of it
• Architecture is over - here's cybertecture
• The National announces Future of News journalism competition
• Round up: Experts share their visions of the world to come
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
While you're here
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
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Honeymoonish
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
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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SPEC%20SHEET
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
- Life in the royal residences with Sheikha Osha bint Nahayan
- Sheikha Mahra and Sheikha Sabha recall their time spent in Al Hosn
- A place where problems were solved
- How the fort's rise tracked Abu Dhabi's development
- Meet Frauke Heard-Bey - the fort's historian for 30 years
- In Pictures: Story of a fort
The national orchestra
Tomorrow 2021
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Plastic tipping points
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
- Life in the royal residences with Sheikha Osha bint Nahayan
- Sheikha Mahra and Sheikha Sabha recall their time spent in Al Hosn
- A place where problems were solved
- How the fort's rise tracked Abu Dhabi's development
- Meet Frauke Heard-Bey - the fort's historian for 30 years
- In Pictures: Story of a fort
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
