Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
The EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for member states to carry out the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, cautioning that neither side can achieve “total victory” in the Gaza war.
"The decision of the court has to be respected and implemented," Mr Borell said during a press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman on Thursday.
"All states parties of the court, which includes all members of the EU, are bound to implement this court decision," he said.
Mr Safadi also called for the implementation of the warrants issued against the Israeli officials but did not address the warrant for Deif, who Israel claims to have killed.
Mr Borrell’s comments come amid widespread criticism on the continent of Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza, which has strained ties with many European countries without leading to any substantial break.
The ICC announced the arrest warrants earlier on Thursday, saying Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant were suspected of crimes against humanity. The grounds for Deif's warrant were classified as secret to "protect witnesses and safeguard the conduct of investigations", the court said.
Mr Borrell will be replaced by former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas when his term ends this month. But he is using his final appearances in the region to make a moral case for peace. He will address Israeli and Palestinian civil figures In Cyprus on Saturday before travelling to Lebanon.
In a speech at Jordan University late on Wednesday, Mr Borrell appealed to both sides to stop “dehumanising” each other and seek peace based on “equal dignity”.
“There is a narrative trying to present the problem as a fight between the West and the East or against the South, or against the Muslim world. This is a caricature that has to be deconstructed and rejected. We have to avoid any kind of clashes based on religion, civilisation or ethnicity,” he said.
The war started on October 7 last year when a surprise attack on southern Israel by Hamas and other militant groups supported by Iran killed about 1,200 civilians. Palestinian health officials in Gaza say that 44,000 people have been killed in the subsequent invasion of Gaza.
“Do not listen to the ones who claim for total victory. The victory is never total. Let’s talk about inclusion,” he said. “Any message of hate,” whether from “an Israeli minister as much as if it comes from the voice of an extremist from any field” must be rejected.
He recalled his own's father's experience as a participant in the 1936 to 1939 Spanish Civil war. At least half a million people were killed in the conflict, which was followed by the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.
“Do not play games of war,” Mr Borrell quoted his father as telling him. “He knew by his own experience how awful war could be.”
As a young university graduate in the late 1960s, Mr Borrell worked as a volunteer in a Kibbutz “not because I was supporting Zionism, but because the Kibbutz represented for the young people … in Europe, the ideal of socialism. The ideal of living together, and sharing everything.”
But he repeated criticism he has incessantly levelled against Israel's war conduct in Gaza as disproportionate, unjustifiable and contravening international law.
“There is a limit to the right of defence, and the level of destruction that we are witnessing in Gaza is not justified with the right to defence,” Mr Borrell said, calling for respect of UN principles that “push back against any kind of dehumanisation”.
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Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
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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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