Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Israel was on tenterhooks on Wednesday as a second hostage deal with Hamas appeared closer than ever, raising the prospect of an end to one of the most traumatic crises in the region’s history.
If fully realised, the three-part deal could free all 98 hostages taken from Israel, living and dead, and end the Gaza war, in which more than 46,700 Palestinians have been killed and the vast majority of the strip’s population displaced.
Despite Israeli public opinion surveys long showing a preference for a deal to release the captives, there has been vocal opposition to one throughout the process and wider unease about the concessions Israel would have to make to secure an agreement, which include the release of Palestinian detainees held on terror charges and significant Israeli withdrawal from the strip without having secured a decisive defeat of Hamas.
The most vocal opposition came from far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. As reports indicating progress have mounted since the beginning of the week, Mr Ben-Gvir, who has consistently favoured a heavy military approach in Gaza over negotiations with Hamas, led the charge against a deal, calling on his far-right political ally Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to leave the government if a deal is reached. Mr Ben-Gvir earlier boasted that he had prevented a similarly “terrible” deal on a number of occasions during the past year.
In response, Mr Smotrich said on X on Wednesday that the war should go on, but remained ambiguous on whether he would support or oppose the deal. Israeli news outlet Haaretz reported late on Wednesday afternoon that Mr Smotrich had concluded a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz.
Amir Avivi, a former Israeli general, said there is “no right or wrong” when it comes to support for a deal and that an agreement is more “a matter of what we prioritise at this specific moment”.
“As we enter this deal, Israel has to come up with a new strategy about how to defeat Hamas,” he added. "This is a long-term process. Gaza is a ticking bomb. Diffusing it is going to take many years.
“What’s happening now is Hamas is rebuilding itself faster than we’re destroying them." He said he believes the Trump administration in the US will be much more open to new Israeli proposals on how to defeat the group.
Carmit Palty Katzir, who had one family member killed and two taken hostage during the Hamas-led October 7 attacks, called for a deal to be passed, saying her story is a “very sad example of the consequences of what might happen when you’re able to rescue hostages on time, but delay”, in reference to her mother, who died soon after her release in the first truce deal of November 2023.
“We had a chance to tell her how much we loved her and for her to meet her daughters and grandkids," she said. "There are so many people we can still save. We have to save them."
A social worker, Ms Palty Katzir, whose father was killed on October 7 and whose brother was killed in captivity in Gaza, was part of planning efforts potentially to receive the latest round of hostages, who are expected to be in far worse condition than those released during the first deal.
Dr Amir Blumenfeld, a physician who works on treating and rehabilitating Gaza war hostages, said “every system in the body is damaged due to stays in captivity like this, especially in tunnels”.
“After 15 months we pretty much expect many illnesses, physical and mental, from everyone, no matter who it was before what their shape or medical condition,” he added. “I call every one of them a humanitarian case that needs to be released as soon as possible.”
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
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
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
MATCH INFO
Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:
Al Ain 2 Al Duhail 4
Second leg:
Tuesday, Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha. Kick off 7.30pm
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
More coverage from the Future Forum
What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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more from Janine di Giovanni
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.
6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
