Hamas has given mediators an initial, partial response to proposals for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, but the group is expected to deliver a final reply shortly, sources told The National.
They said Hamas has unconditionally agreed to a 60-day truce during which sufficient aid will enter Gaza, chiefly through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in the south of the enclave.
"Hamas has just submitted its response and that of the Palestinian factions to the ceasefire proposal to the mediators," the group said on Thursday.
Hamas has also agreed in principle to most of the maps Israel presented for the reposting of its troops in Gaza, but wants them to withdraw from Deir Al Balah in central Gaza – the site of a major military operation by Israel – as well as Khan Younis in the south, the sources said.
“Hamas is reviewing the maps with other resistance factions in Gaza,” one of the sources said. “We expect Hamas's final and full response within hours, but that can change.”
The sources spoke as US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was expected to travel to Europe on Thursday and Qatar on Friday, a sign that in the past has been interpreted to mean a deal was within reach.
However, optimism that mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the US were on the cusp of getting Israel and Hamas to agree to a deal previously proved premature, because of the intransigence of both sides.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog was upbeat on Wednesday during a visit to Gaza, telling soldiers there were “intensive negotiations” about returning the hostages held in the enclave. He said he hoped the soldiers would soon “hear good news”, according to a statement from the President's representative.
Hamas, however, is yet to provide a final list of the names of the hundreds of Palestinians it wants released from Israeli prisons as part of the agreement, the sources said.
The list will probably include high-profile Palestinians serving long jail terms who Hamas wants freed, but Israel insists on keeping them in prison, they said. The figures include Marwan Barghouti, a senior leader of the mainstream Fatah faction who is widely regarded as a possible successor to President Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamas was also expected to provide mediators with its final timeline for the release of 10 Israeli hostages and the remains of 18 who died in captivity, the sources said.
Hamas has previously proposed the release of the hostages in batches throughout a 60-day truce to ensure Israel's compliance with the agreement, but it appears that Israel has rejected that timeline and suggested an alternative, which Hamas is reviewing.
Hamas is believed to be holding about 50 hostages. The Israeli military believe 20 are alive.
Apart from the truce and flow of aid into Gaza, where starvation is claiming more lives, the key provisions of the latest proposals include discussions on a long-term ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from the enclave. Hamas had wanted US guarantees that these talks would continue until an agreement is reached, but the sources said Hamas appeared to have dropped that condition.
Israel insists the war will not end until Hamas's military and governing capabilities have been fully dismantled and all hostages released. It is also demanding that Hamas lays down its arms and its leaders agree to live in exile with their families.
Hamas has rejected Israel's demand that it surrenders its weapons. Instead, it suggested it was open to talkson laying down its arms and storing them under international supervision when a long-term ceasefire is in place.
It has agreed to the exile of its leaders, provided that they and their families are not attacked by Israel.
The Gaza war was caused by a Hamas attack on southern Israeli communities, killing about 1,200 and taking another 240 hostage. Israel's response has been a devastating assault that has killed more than 59,200 Palestinians, Gaza's Health Ministry said.
Nearly all the enclave's 2.3 million residents have been displaced, more than once in many cases, and large areas of built-up land reduced to rubble.
In%20the%20Land%20of%20Saints%20and%20Sinners
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 390bhp
Torque: 400Nm
Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579
THE BIO
Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.
Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.
She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.
Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring the natural world.
How it works
A $10 hand-powered LED light and battery bank
Device is operated by hand cranking it at any time during the day or night
The charge is stored inside a battery
The ratio is that for every minute you crank, it provides 10 minutes light on the brightest mode
A full hand wound charge is of 16.5minutes
This gives 1.1 hours of light on high mode or 2.5 hours of light on low mode
When more light is needed, it can be recharged by winding again
The larger version costs between $18-20 and generates more than 15 hours of light with a 45-minute charge
No limit on how many times you can charge
Company%20profile
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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THE%20JERSEYS
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Summer special
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
Results
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'Cheb%20Khaled'
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Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Details
Through Her Lens: The stories behind the photography of Eva Sereny
Forewords by Jacqueline Bisset and Charlotte Rampling, ACC Art Books
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
THE BIO
Favourite author - Paulo Coelho
Favourite holiday destination - Cuba
New York Times or Jordan Times? NYT is a school and JT was my practice field
Role model - My Grandfather
Dream interviewee - Che Guevara
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on Quran memorisation:
