Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Intensive negotiations are under way to reach a Gaza ceasefire agreement with Israel before US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East in May, Hamas officials confirmed.
A delegation of senior Hamas members, led by Khalil Al Hayya, Zaher Jabareen and Nazar Awdallah, arrived in Cairo late on Thursday night for talks with Egyptian mediators, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The head of Israel's Mossad spy agency, David Barnea, was expected in Qatar later on Friday to join officials from the agency who are already there, they added.
Sources told The National earlier that the two sides held “serious” talks in Cairo on the latest Gaza ceasefire proposals, but an agreement may prove elusive again.
Mr Trump is set to visit Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar from May 13-16. It will be the US leader’s first scheduled overseas trip of his second term, after a short visit to the Vatican for Pope Francis’s funeral this weekend.
“There are ongoing attempts, meetings and intensive contacts to reach an agreement as soon as possible,” said a Hamas official.
“There are several formulas on the table, so it’s too early to talk about a final version. A broad range of contacts is ongoing between Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United States to reach an agreement."
Another Hamas official said the latest proposals include a comprehensive ceasefire that would involve the release of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and the entry of “sufficient aid” into the territory.
“With US guarantees, there are high hopes” that a deal can be reached soon, added the official.
According to sources close to the negotiations, the proposals, presented by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, provide for a truce lasting five to seven years, the release of the remaining 59 hostages held by Hamas in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees in Israel, and an end to 18 months of conflict in the enclave.
The proposals also include an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in return for Hamas agreeing to lay down its arms – but not surrender them.
The sources said that Hamas has agreed to lay down its arms during the truce years, but it was unclear if that proposal meets Israel’s declared goal of disarming the group and fully ending its governance and military abilities.
“We in Hamas have no problem,” said a third official when asked about laying down arms and giving up the governance of Gaza. “We have no objection to agreeing on specific terms, including a truce with external guarantees."
Israel was also opposed to the release of several prominent Palestinians serving life sentences in its jails after their conviction in security-related cases. Hamas and Israeli negotiators are also at odds over the mechanisms for implementing an agreement, including the date on which it would go into effect.
US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators brokered a ceasefire in January. It expired on March 1, but the enclave remained relatively quiet until March 18, when Israel resumed air strikes and ground operations.
Israel halted all aid deliveries to Gaza as of March 2, worsening a humanitarian crisis for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
Israel's war in Gaza has to date left at least 51,355 Palestinians dead and more than twice that number wounded, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry, and laid to waste most of the territory’s built-up areas.
It was in response to an October 7 attack by Hamas-led fighters that killed 1,200 people in southern Israel.
Demonstrations by residents weary of the conflict have intensified around the Gaza Strip recently, in a rare display of public dissent against Hamas, which has ruled the territory with an iron fist for nearly two decades.
“From our side, we are ready to understand and agree on any issue that ends the aggression and preserves the rights of our Palestinian people,” claimed one of the Hamas officials.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bio
Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind.
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Scoreline
Ireland 16 (Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3)
New Zealand 9 (Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett)
