Since the Israel-Gaza war began seven weeks ago, the four-day truce between the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas has provided the most promise so far, with the staggered release of hostages taken from Israel on October 7 in exchange for 150 Palestinian detainees, some of whom are minors and have spent years incarcerated in Israeli prisons on seemingly arbitrary charges and others without any charge.
Since Friday, when the truce began, 41 of nearly 240 hostages have been released. Hamas still holds the majority captive. In exchange for the hostage release, 78 Palestinian detainees have been freed from Israeli prisons. By the end of the truce on Monday, and under the terms of the agreement, 50 Israeli hostages should be freed and 150 Palestinians released from Israeli jails.
Despite the delay in the prisoner exchange and the fragile nature of the truce, the relief to families and civilians on both sides lends hope, even as several dozens more families in Gaza and Israel remain anxious and waiting for an end to this ordeal.
Ideally, a short truce would lay the groundwork for a longer period of calm and the urgently required talks between the representatives of Palestine and Israel to revive the Middle East peace process. But the Israeli government's statement that its military offensive in Gaza will resume after this first pause in fighting lapses puts a cap on any optimism or productive outcomes.
Israel's military command has clearly stated that the offensive will resume. Adm Daniel Hagari said the war “would not stop until Hamas has been dismantled”, after the army’s chief of staff, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, told Israeli soldiers that “at the end of the operational pause, we will return promptly to our operations and offensive in Gaza”.
And yet, the dire reality for civilians in Gaza is unchanged. They need, at the very least, longer pauses in fighting and the continued delivery of aid, including of fuel, as has been seen in the past few days. They also need an end to this tragic chapter that has claimed the lives of more than 14,000 Palestinians, including 6,000 children. That number does not need to rise further. But only when the fighting stops for a meaningful length of time can there be a return to negotiations, with the ultimate aim of reaching a mutually agreed two-state solution that remains vital to ending the decades-long conflict.
The majority of members of the international community is beginning to recognise the untenability of Israel's continued occupation and control of the Palestinian territories. As European leaders convene in Barcelona today to discuss the crisis with their Arab and Mediterranean counterparts, the meeting is yet another reminder for the rest of the world to exert sustained pressure on the stakeholders in the conflict to return to dialogue. Discussions around the future of Palestine are inevitably going to be fraught with challenges but they are necessary, nonetheless.
The absence of the US and Israel in the Barcelona discussions does little to enable the cause of peace, but it is still the mandate of global leaders to channel diplomatic efforts towards ending this war, and keeping international attention on the crisis. Even as ultimately the participation of Israel and the US in negotiations for a two-state solution is essential, high-level diplomatic talks have to be a starting point.
This is particularly urgent as villages, refugee camps and settlements in the other Occupied Territories, notably in West Bank, continue to be riven with violence, bloodshed and lawlessness, due to the excesses of the Israeli armed forces and illegal settlers attempting to drive Palestinians out of their land.
The flicker of hope that has been kindled with the first group of hostages and prisoners returning home cannot be extinguished without a strong bid and a workable plan for peace.
Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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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.”
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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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
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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