Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
US-led mediators and Israeli and Hamas negotiators were studying a complex draft deal to pause the Gaza war and enable the release of hostages, sources told The National on Tuesday, a day after President Joe Biden declared that an agreement was “on the brink” of being finalised.
“There is progress in all components of the agreement formula. We are not quite at the final closure and details are not there yet, but we are definitely in advanced stages,” a senior Israeli official told reporters. “There is talk of an agreement in the near future, but it is impossible to say whether it is a matter of hours or days.”
A Palestinian source said he expected the deal to be finalised on Tuesday if “all goes well”, Reuters reported.
Ending the war in Gaza would be a milestone for the Middle East. The conflict has significantly altered the region's political and military landscape. It has led to a war in Lebanon, drawn Iran into an exchange of direct attacks with Israel and prompted Tehran's proxy in Yemen, the Houthis, to launch missiles and drones on Israel and attack shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade through Egypt's Suez Canal.
A truce would give Gaza its first respite from war since November 2023 when a week-long ceasefire saw about 100 hostages released by Hamas in exchange for almost 250 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
Previous attempts by the mediators to negotiate another deal have faltered at the final stages as Israel and Hamas refused to show flexibility. However, Donald Trump's victory in the November US presidential election and his repeated threat that there would be “hell to pay” if the hostages were not released before his January 20 inauguration have re-energised the negotiations.
“This is the closest point we have been to a deal over the past months,” Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said on Tuesday in Doha where, according to the sources, the mediators and negotiators are debating some of the more intricate details of the draft and mapping out a mechanism for its implementation.
The source said late on Monday that both Hamas and Israel have given their approval in principle to the draft, the first time both sides have agreed on a blueprint to end the war in over a year.
Those involved in the final push for a deal are David Barnea, director of Israel's Mossad spy agency; Ronen Bar, director of Israel's Shin Bet internal security; Steve Witkoff, Mr Trump's incoming Middle East envoy; Brett McGurk, Mr Biden's outgoing Middle East envoy; and Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman.
A notable absence from the US team is CIA director William Burns, who had often acted as his country's chief mediator in the past year. US ally Egypt is represented by top intelligence officials while Hamas is represented by Khalil Al Hayah, the most powerful official from the group's leadership in exile, the sources said.
Mohammed Sinwar, the de facto leader of Hamas in Gaza after Israel killed his older brother, Yahya Sinwar, in October, was being constantly updated on the progress of the talks, they said.
“In the war between Israel and Hamas, we're on the brink of a proposal that I laid out in detail months ago finally coming to fruition,” Mr Biden said in a farewell speech at the State Department on Monday. Earlier on Monday, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said a deal could be finalised this week.
A draft of the agreement that was seen by The National but could not be independently verified, provides for a 42-day truce, a limited release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees in Israel, a partial Israeli withdrawal, the return home of unarmed Palestinians displaced by the fighting and the entry of more humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
The Gaza war was started by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, when its fighters killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped about 250. The attack drew an Israeli response that has to date killed more than 46,600 people and injured more than twice that number, Gaza health authorities say. Most of the Palestinian territory's 2.3 million people have been displaced and large areas of built-up regions have been reduced to rubble.
Hamas and allied militant groups are believed to be still holding about 100 hostages, of whom the Israeli military says as many as 40 have died in captivity. At least 33 hostages, including the bodies of the dead, would be released at the rate of three a week during the initial truce, with women, minors, the elderly and ailing hostages included in the first batch.
According to the draft, the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons will depend on the commitment of both sides to the terms of the proposed deal, including observing the truce, Israel's withdrawal and the return home of the displaced, as well as the entry of aid.
Israel will halt all aerial activity during the truce for 10 hours every day and 12 hours on days when the exchange of hostages for detainees is taking place, according to the draft. The fate of 100 Palestinian prisoners and detainees serving long jail terms who Hamas wants freed would be discussed at a later stage, the draft says.
The sources said Palestinians convicted of murder or deadly attacks could be released by Israel but on condition they and their families go into exile outside the Palestinian territories.
They said Israel was unlikely to fully withdraw from Gaza. Instead, it intends to create buffer zones on the enclave's borders to protect communities in its southern region. It will initially withdraw from parts of the Philadelphi corridor bordering Egypt on the Gaza side but only after security arrangements are put in place, they said.
The draft stipulates the release of 30 to 50 Palestinians for every hostage freed by Hamas. The proposed deal also provides for the daily arrival of 600 lorries laden with humanitarian assistance, including 50 carrying fuel. Half of the convoy will head to the north of the Gaza Strip, by far the most devastated part of the coastal enclave. Hospitals, bakeries and medical centres would be repaired and brought back into operation.
Machinery to remove debris would enter Gaza during the 42-day truce and at least 60,000 caravans and 200,000 tents would be allowed in to house residents who have lost their homes.
Israel and Hamas will engage in indirect negotiations starting no later than the 16th day of the truce to iron out details of the second phase of the deal and the release of the remaining hostages, mostly Israeli soldiers and civilian men.
The Israeli official who briefed reporters on Tuesday said any agreement would first have to be approved by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his security cabinet. Time will also have to be allowed for a possible petition against the agreement in the High Court.
“So, even once they have negotiated the agreement, it will take a little more time. However, we will be prepared to implement things very quickly,” he said.
Far-right Israeli politicians have meanwhile doubled down on their opposition to a deal, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir boasting on X that he had prevented the “terrible” deal on a number of occasions during the past year. He also called on far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a political ally, to resign from government if the deal passes.
“I call on the Prime Minister to come to his senses and take steps that will lead to the defeat of Hamas and the release of our hostages without abandoning Israel's security: completely stop the transfer of humanitarian aid and fuel, electricity, and water to Gaza, along with continuing the military crushing of Hamas until its complete defeat,” he added.
Mrs%20Chatterjee%20Vs%20Norway
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MATCH INFO
Northern Warriors 92-1 (10 ovs)
Russell 37 no, Billings 35 no
Team Abu Dhabi 93-4 (8.3 ovs)
Wright 48, Moeen 30, Green 2-22
Team Abu Dhabi win by six wickets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20the%20Middle%20East
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MOST%20POLLUTED%20COUNTRIES%20IN%20THE%20WORLD
%3Cp%3E1.%20Chad%3Cbr%3E2.%20Iraq%3Cbr%3E3.%20Pakistan%3Cbr%3E4.%20Bahrain%3Cbr%3E5.%20Bangladesh%3Cbr%3E6.%20Burkina%20Faso%3Cbr%3E7.%20Kuwait%3Cbr%3E8.%20India%3Cbr%3E9.%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E10.%20Tajikistan%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%202022%20World%20Air%20Quality%20Report%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key Points
- Protests against President Omar Al Bashir enter their sixth day
- Reports of President Bashir's resignation and arrests of senior government officials
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Company%20Profile
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Coming 2 America
Directed by: Craig Brewer
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones
3/5 stars
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
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
Results:
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah (PA) | Group 2 | US$55,000 (Dirt) | 1,600 metres
Winner: AF Al Sajanjle, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint (TB) | Group 2 | $250,000 (Turf) | 1,000m
Winner: Blue Point, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Firebreak Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Muntazah, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
8.15pm: Meydan Trophy Conditions (TB) | $100,000 (T) | 1,900m
Winner: Art Du Val, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Balanchine Group 2 (TB) | $250,000 (T) | 1,800m
Winner: Poetic Charm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (D) | 1,200m
Winner: Lava Spin, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,410m
Winner: Mountain Hunter, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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RIDE%20ON
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The Dark Blue Winter Overcoat & Other Stories From the North
Edited and Introduced by Sjón and Ted Hodgkinson
Pushkin Press
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
UAE SQUAD FOR ASIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP
Men’s squad: Faisal Al Ketbi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Kathiri, Thiab Al Nuaimi, Khaled Al Shehhi, Mohamed Ali Al Suwaidi, Farraj Khaled Al Awlaqi, Muhammad Al Ameri, Mahdi Al Awlaqi, Saeed Al Qubaisi, Abdullah Al Qubaisi and Hazaa Farhan
Women's squad: Hamda Al Shekheili, Shouq Al Dhanhani, Balqis Abdullah, Sharifa Al Namani, Asma Al Hosani, Maitha Sultan, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Maha Al Hanaei, Shamma Al Kalbani, Haya Al Jahuri, Mahra Mahfouz, Marwa Al Hosani, Tasneem Al Jahoori and Maryam Al Amri
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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