Gaza ceasefire talks in 'dark tunnel' after killing of Hamas chief Haniyeh

Negotiations to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip have entered a “dark tunnel” and their fate is uncertain after the assassination of Hamas leader and senior negotiator Ismail Haniyeh, sources told The National on Friday.

Mr Haniyeh, the group's political chief, and his bodyguard were killed in a guesthouse in Tehran on Wednesday. Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas have blamed Israel. But Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.

Mr Haniyeh played a key role in talks for a potential ceasefire in Gaza, liaising with mediators Qatar, which has led months of negotiations alongside Egypt and the US.

The assassination threatens to derail the efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, where about 39,400 people have been killed and more than 90,000 injured since October. The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel and killed about 1,200 people.

"The negotiations are now not just in a dark tunnel, but they have actually died a clinical death," one source said.

Another source said: "No one can now tell you what comes next."

A Hamas official said earlier that the group will start discussing the fate of the talks after “a week or two”.

“The Gaza and hostage negotiations, after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, cannot now be put up for discussion or resumption before a week or two,” the member of Hamas's political leadership told The National.

Israel "does not want to complete the deal", he added.

An Israeli woman walks past posters on a bomb shelter in the southern Reim kibbutz. Reuters

Qatar and Egypt suggested on Wednesday that the killing of Mr Haniyeh could further jeopardise efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

“Political assassinations and continued targeting of civilians in Gaza, while talks continue, lead us to ask, how can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side?” Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani wrote on X.

US President Joe Biden stressed late on Thursday that he was "very concerned" about rising tensions in the region and added that the killing of Mr Haniyeh had "not helped" the situation.

The White House said Mr Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by telephone and promised to defend Israel's security "against all threats from Iran".

"We have the basis for a ceasefire. They should move on it and they should move on it now," Mr Biden told reporters after the call.

In Gaza, the Israeli army continued its bombing campaign amid calls by family members of Israeli hostages held in the enclave to agree to a ceasefire deal.

At least four people were killed in an Israeli strike on an apartment building in Gaza city on Friday morning, the Wafa news agency reported. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said the victims were members of the Abu Hashem family.

Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.

The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.

Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.

However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.

Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.

Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).