Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
A proposed four-day truce between Israel and Hamas offers a "glimmer of hope" in the continuing war, France's President Emmanuel Macron told senior officials from the Middle East and the Muslim world at a meeting in Paris.
"It's the first time since October 7 that there is a glimmer of hope, not just with your visit ... but thanks as well to the truce being organised for a few hours plus the release of hostages," Mr Macron said, according to a video published on Thursday on X, formerly Twitter.
"I do hope we will deliver," he told the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey and Palestine.
Mr Macron was speaking on Wednesday, shortly after the four-day truce was announced by Israel. It was to come into effect on Thursday but has since been delayed until the following day at the earliest.
The temporary truce involves the exchange of 50 hostages abducted by Hamas from southern Israel on October 7 for up to 150 female and child Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
Sitting around Mr Macron were representatives sent by the Arab League and the Organisation for Islamic Co-operation, including Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the Arab League.
Mr Macron described their meeting as a co-ordination effort to "build a sustainable peace in the whole region".
The French President also highlighted the position of France on the conflict, which initially condemned the Hamas attacks on Israel which killed about 1,200 people.
But Mr Macron was also one of the first prominent western leaders to call for a ceasefire as the number of deaths grew in Israeli retaliatory bombing of Gaza. It currently stands at more than 14,000 people, including 5,840 children.
"There is no double standard for France," Mr Macron told his guests, in a reference to oft-heard accusations against western leaders of a prioritisation of Israeli interests over Palestinian ones.
Mr Macron laid out France's vision of how the international community should respond to the war, starting with fighting terrorism in the region.
"We are very vigilant with all the other terrorist groups being linked or not linked to Iran," Mr Macron said.
Second, France says it is focused on supporting the Palestinian people with humanitarian aid.
"We were the first G7 country to join Jordan with the resolution," said Mr Macron, in an apparent reference to the UN General Assembly adoption of a resolution on October 26 calling for an immediate and sustained "humanitarian truce" between Israel and Hamas.
The third pillar is restarting political negotiations to find a two-state solution, Mr Macron said.
"There is a fair request of Palestinian people to call for a government and a state," he said. "We have to resume the political dialogue."
European and US leaders have said they believe that post-war Gaza should be taken over by the Palestinian Authority, which was ousted by Hamas in 2007.
France and other EU countries are expected to continue discussing the conflict in the coming weeks.
The office of the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, is expected to put forward an option paper for the bloc's 27 foreign ministers to discuss at their next meeting on December 11.
The best way to guarantee Israel's protection is the creation of a Palestinian state, Mr Borrell said on Monday.
"Diplomacy and engagement remain the best way to avoid uncontrollable escalation," he added, speaking after returning from a five-day tour of the Middle East.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Results
2.15pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Hello, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihi (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Right Flank, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,000m
Winner: Leading Spirit, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 Dh575,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner: Ode To Autumn, Patrick Cosgrave, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh125,000 1,200m
Winner: Last Surprise, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,200m
Winner: Daltrey, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihi.
HAJJAN
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
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OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
