Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Arab leaders welcomed a ceasefire deal announced between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday night, but urged parties to work quickly towards increasing the flow of aid to Gaza after 15 months of war.
The truce will begin on Sunday and last six weeks initially, including the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and release of hostages taken by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian detainees held by Israel, said Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, who mediated the talks along with the US and Egypt.
Donor nations and NGOs have stockpiled thousands of tonnes of aid at the southern Gaza border and a major operation is expected in the coming days, once they are given access.
Many Gazan families are living in tents and surviving on 100 grams of bread a day. Many deaths caused by malnutrition have been reported in recent weeks.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, has "stressed the need for both parties to abide by the agreements and commitments reached in order to end the suffering of Palestinian prisoners and Israeli detainees", the ministry said.
He called for "the urgent and sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need and to allow its flow by all means and without obstacles to end the critical humanitarian conditions facing civilians for more than 15 months".
The UAE praised the role Qatar, Egypt and the US played in the achievement to end the conflict. More than 46,700 people have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023, health authorities in the enclave said.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi emphasised the "importance of accelerating the entry of urgent humanitarian aid" into Gaza as he welcomed the ceasefire agreement.
Mr El Sisi, whose country borders Gaza, said the deal came after "strenuous efforts over more than a year of Egyptian, Qatari and US mediation", adding that Egypt "will always remain faithful to its promise, supporting a just peace, a sincere partner in achieving it, and a defender of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people".
Video: Did Trump push Gaza deal over the line?
The International Rescue Committee said on Wednesday that aid priorities must include unsafe water, overcrowded shelters and damaged infrastructure, including hospitals, as well as hunger.
"IRC teams inside Gaza are seeing alarming rates of severe and acute malnutrition among children under five, with famine conditions predicted in parts of northern Gaza," the group said in a statement.
Aid entry into Gaza has been restricted for almost the entire conflict, which broke out after Hamas attacked southern Israel in October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping 240. Wednesday's agreement allows for some hostages to return home.
The UN has complained of aid obstacles in Gaza throughout the 15-month war. Israel and lawlessness in the enclave have impeded entry and distribution, the UN added.
Aid groups echoed the calls by Arab leaders for urgent aid to enter the enclave, with UN children's agency calling the deal "long overdue".
"The war has exacted a horrific toll on Gaza's children, reportedly leaving at least 14,500 dead, thousands more injured, an estimated 17,000 unaccompanied or separated from their parents, and nearly one million displaced from their homes," the group said in a statement.
"The scale of humanitarian needs is enormous, and Unicef and partners are ready to scale up our response."
International Committee of the Red Cross president Mirjana Spoljaric said it was "ready to facilitate any release operation" as part of the deal.
"There are no words to describe the level of suffering that Palestinians and Israelis are enduring on a daily basis," she added. "This nightmare has gone on for far too long. The suffering must end."
Israel has said the quantity of aid delivered to Gaza, which it claims is more than a million tonnes over the past year, has been adequate. But it accuses Hamas of hijacking supplies before they reach Palestinians in need. Hamas has denied the allegations and blamed Israel for shortages in the enclave.
The UN said it has been preparing how to increase Gaza aid operations.
Video: Guterres calls for urgent life-saving support
Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday that Israel was forced to retreat. "Everyone will realise it was the patience of the people and steadfastness of Palestinian resistance and Resistance Front that forced the Zionist regime to retreat," he said on X.
The Resistance Front refers to an alliance of militant groups backed by Iran, including Hezbollah and Hamas.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement that the ceasefire represented a "great victory" for the Palestinian resistance.
Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi called for “an immediate international move to bring in enough and sustained humanitarian aid to confront the humanitarian disaster caused by the Israeli aggression against Gaza”.
He added that “real effort” must be now exerted to rebuild the enclave.
Saudi Arabia called for commitments to end Israeli "aggression" on Gaza after welcoming the ceasefire, its Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country would continue to stand with the Palestinian people, including those in Gaza "who courageously defended their land and freedom against Israel's unlawful and inhumane attacks".
"We have never left our Palestinian brothers alone for a moment in their struggle against oppression and tyranny," Mr Erdogan said. "God willing, we will continue to stand by the people of Gaza and mobilise all our resources to heal Gaza's wounds and help it get back on its feet."
US President Joe Biden said he was "deeply satisfied this day has come, finally come". UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the agreement "long-overdue news" and said his country would help "secure long-term peace" for Palestinians and Israelis.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said "both parties must fully implement this agreement, as a stepping stone towards lasting stability in the region". French President Emmanuel Macron said the truce should be respected, with a "political solution" to come.
Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz believed the deal "opens the door to a permanent end to the war and to the improvement of the poor humanitarian situation in Gaza" and said it must be "implemented to the letter".
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
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.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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Schedule
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Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHayvn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristopher%20Flinos%2C%20Ahmed%20Ismail%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efinancial%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eundisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2044%20employees%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eseries%20B%20in%20the%20second%20half%20of%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHilbert%20Capital%2C%20Red%20Acre%20Ventures%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
MATCH INFO
Qalandars 112-4 (10 ovs)
Banton 53 no
Northern Warriors 46 all out (9 ovs)
Kumara 3-10, Garton 3-10, Jordan 2-2, Prasanna 2-7
Qalandars win by six wickets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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RECORD%20BREAKER
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
T20 World Cup Qualifier A, Muscat
Friday, February 18: 10am - Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm - Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am - Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm - UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am - Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm - Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm – semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm – final
UAE squad: Ahmed Raza (captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Racecard
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
9.30pm: Balanchine Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
