Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
The White House on Thursday said that it was working to extend the truce in the Gaza Strip and condemned the shooting of three people in a Hamas attack in Jerusalem.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the US is continuing efforts with Israel, Qatar and Egypt to extend the truce in Gaza, now in its seventh day, to enable the release of additional hostages held by Hamas and allow the entry of more aid to the besieged enclave.
“We're working on it literally by the hour to see if we can get this seventh day turned into an eighth and ninth and 10th and beyond,” Mr Kirby told reporters.
“But all I can do is tell you where we are right now and we're glad that we got a seventh day out of this.”
The comments came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on his third visit to Israel since the war began, met Israeli Prime Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials, and said that he hoped the truce could be extended and more hostages released.
The temporary truce in Gaza came amid mounting international pressure to bring to a halt weeks of Israeli bombardment and an unprecedented ground invasion after a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 that killed 1,200 people.
More than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of them women and children, and most of the coastal enclave's population has been displaced to the south, where a humanitarian crisis is worsening.
Israel has vowed to resume its war on Gaza, saying it is intent on destroying Hamas.
“They have said very clearly that, that when these pauses are over, they intend to go back at it,” Mr Kirby said.
“And as they make that decision, they'll continue to find support from the United States in terms of the tools and capabilities, the weapons systems that they need, as well as the advice and the perspectives that we can offer in terms of urban warfare.”
On Thursday, Palestinian gunmen killed three people and wounded several others in Jerusalem.
The attackers were shot dead and Hamas later claimed responsibility for the shooting.
The incident has not appeared to have affected the truce, but Mr Kirby said it was an example of the kind of threat that Israel is under by Hamas.
“We obviously condemn this terrorist attack and senseless violence,” he said.
So far, 75 Israelis, some of them dual citizens, have been freed in exchange for 210 Palestinian detainees, mostly women and minors, held in Israeli prisons.
Another 24 hostages, most of them Thai citizens, have also been freed in separate agreements.
US officials had said that nine American citizens were believed to be among the hostages. On Thursday, Mr Kirby said four* Americans have so far been released and one remains unaccounted for.
On December 1, the White House said that the number of American hostages freed from Gaza was four and not six as previously stated
The latest from the Israel-Gaza war – in pictures
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
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Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
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The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua Based: Dubai, UAE Number of employees: 28 Sector: Financial services Investment: $9.5m Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. match info
Southampton 0
Arsenal 2 (Nketiah 20', Willock 87')
Red card: Jack Stephens (Southampton)
Man of the match: Rob Holding (Arsenal)
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
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Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Four out of five stars
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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