Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
US President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Hamas on Monday, saying that if all Israeli hostages were not freed from Gaza by noon on Saturday, then “all hell is going to break out”.
“As far as I'm concerned, if all of the hostages aren't returned by Saturday at 12 o'clock – I think it's an appropriate time – I would say, cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” he said. “And if they're not returned – all of them, not in dribs and drabs … after that, I would say, all hell is going to break out.”
He added that Israel could “override” such a decision. Asked whether the US would intervene in Gaza after the Saturday deadline, Mr Trump said: “We’ll see what happens.”
It was not clear what time zone the noon deadline would fall under.
Hamas earlier on Monday announced it would delay the release of hostages after saying Israel had committed breaches and failed to abide by the terms of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement struck three weeks ago.
The development comes during phase one of a fragile pause in the 16-month war in Gaza. Under the terms, brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt, Israeli hostages would be released in exchange for Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails.
The ceasefire began on January 19, the day before Mr Trump took office.
More than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes and most of Gaza's homes and infrastructure have been reduced to rubble. The war was ignited on October 7, 2023 when Hamas gunmen attacked Israel killing 1,200 and taking about 250 people hostage.
Mr Trump's comments also come after the US President has been pushing a proposal to permanently displace roughly two million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, while saying the US would “own” the coastal enclave and develop it. Palestinians would not have the right to return after the coastal enclave is rebuilt, he said.
He first made the proposal last week during the official visit of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington. He said he would turn the enclave into the “Riviera of the Middle East”.
The President's relocation plan has been met with almost unequivocal rejection from Arab and world leaders as well as the UN and Palestinians, who have said such a move would be a grave injustice and amount to ethnic cleansing.
Mr Trump said Palestinians would be sent to Jordan and Egypt, though both countries have rejected the proposal.
The President has so far insisted that the two countries, as well as others would take displaced Palestinians.
“I do think he'll take [Palestinians],” he said, referring to Jordan's King Abdullah II, who is visiting the White House on Tuesday. “And I think other countries will take also, they have good hearts.”
And when asked if he would withhold aid to Jordan and Egypt if they do not comply with his plan, he said: “Yeah, maybe, sure why not? If they don’t, I would conceivably withhold aid, yes.”
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is expected to visit Washington next week, although his trip has not yet been officially announced.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in Washington on Monday to discuss “post-conflict planning” for Gaza.
A readout from the State Department made no mention of Mr Trump’s displacement plan. He has said Egypt and Jordan would take the refugees, but both countries have repeatedly said they would not.
Mr Abdelatty told Mr Rubio that Arab states remain firm in their stance against the President's proposals, according to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Aquaman%20and%20the%20Lost%20Kingdom
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MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')
Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Hotel Data Cloud profile
Date started: June 2016
Founders: Gregor Amon and Kevin Czok
Based: Dubai
Sector: Travel Tech
Size: 10 employees
Funding: $350,000 (Dh1.3 million)
Investors: five angel investors (undisclosed except for Amar Shubar)
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Company%20profile
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