Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
A US deal with Hamas to free American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander has prompted heavy criticism of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with opponents accusing him of abandoning the remaining captives in Gaza and undermining his country's relationship with the Trump administration.
The direct negotiations between the US, Israel's closest ally, and its sworn enemy, Hamas, have sparked anger over Mr Netanyahu's insistence on prolonging the war in Gaza. Hostage families are also concerned that captives without a US passport are now at a disadvantage.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said the release of Mr Alexander was “welcome and exciting” but that it must “lead to a broad hostage deal”.
“The reports of direct contacts between Hamas and the US are a disgraceful diplomatic failure by the Israeli government and its leader,” he added. “The kidnapped are ours, and the responsibility for their return lies with the government.”
Members of a forum representing most of Israel’s hostage families slammed the Prime Minister at a press conference in Tel Aviv. One mother said in words addressed to her captive son: “We are doing everything for your return, even though Netanyahu has abandoned you.”
She then addressed Mr Trump, saying: “All of the Israeli people are behind you. End this war. Bring them all home.”
Mr Netanyahu announced on Monday that he is sending a negotiating team to Doha to discuss a wider deal, while thanking Mr Trump "for his assistance".
No second passport
Mr Lapid’s comments echo fears by many hostage families that the fate of the remaining captives, none of whom have US passports, will be abandoned to Mr Netanyahu if Mr Trump loses interest in the issue.
Yehuda Cohen, the father of Israeli soldier Nimrod Cohen, one of those being held captive in Gaza, said: “The state sent our son, like Edan Alexander, to defend its borders. Nimrod is a proud Israeli patriot. Never thought to seek a foreign passport. Tonight we got a resounding slap in the face from the government abandoning hostages.”
Critics say Mr Netanyahu is prolonging the war to ensure his own political survival, torching Israel's legitimacy and most important alliances in the process. Allies appear to be growing ever more uneasy about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and disillusioned with the ultra-nationalist coalition’s war strategy.
The hostage news came amid hints of a growing Israeli rift with the US. Mr Trump announced a deal with Yemen’s Houthis that left out Israel, despite the group continuing to target Israeli territory. The US President is also not due to pay a visit to Israel during his high-profile Middle East tour, which is set to begin on Tuesday.
Mr Netanyahu’s office released a statement saying his government is committed to “achieving all war goals” and that “negotiations will take place under fire”. On Monday it then said the hostage release was down to “the aggressive policy we led with the backing of President Trump, and thanks to the military pressure of IDF soldiers in the Gaza Strip”.
It added that "Israel did not commit to any ceasefire or to the release of terrorists". CNN reported that Mr Alexander’s release would lead to “immediate peace deal negotiations”, citing a source.
US officials have vowed they will continue to fight to release the remaining hostages. On a commercial flight to Israel, US hostage envoy Adam Boehler took to the PA system to tell fellow passengers that “we’re going after every single hostage”, to applause. “This is the start […] the bond of Israel and the bond of the [US] has never been stronger,” he added.
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace
Size: Two employees
Funding stage: Seed investment
Initial investment: $200,000
Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East)
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Race results:
1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min
2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec
3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
