Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Talks in Doha and Cairo to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza are focused on new proposals put forward by the US to overcome differences between both parties, sources close to the negotiations have told The National.
The proposals touch on key areas – the duration of the ceasefire, the exchange of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinians in Israeli jails, the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza and the fate of a strip on the Egypt-Gaza border that Israel captured in May – that have been at the root of the deadlock in negotiations, the sources explained.
The new US proposals push for a pause in the war during the first six weeks, followed by US-sponsored negotiations on a lasting ceasefire. This will require a major concession from Hamas, which has insisted that it would accept nothing less than a permanent ceasefire starting when a deal is reached and put in place. Israel, on the other hand, has been adamant that the war will only end when the Palestinian militant group is eradicated and the hostages are released.
Another element is for Hamas to release at least 20 living male hostages during the first phase in return for 50 Palestinian prisoners for each released hostage. The detainees Hamas would want to be freed include more than 160 released in 2011 under a hostage and prisoner swap, who were later rearrested. They would include at least half of the high-profile Palestinians serving long jail terms in Israeli prisons, according to the US proposals.
Israel should fully pull out from the Salah Al Din corridor, also known as the Philadelphi corridor, as well as the Palestinian side of the Rafah land crossing between Gaza and Egypt. In return, Hamas will be prohibited from the border strip, as well as the Rafah crossing, and excluded from participating in postwar governance or reconstruction efforts in the coastal enclave, according to the proposals. Israel said it would maintain control in the corridor.
Egypt was deeply angered by Israel's capture of the two areas. However, Israel insists that it must retain control of both to stop what it describes as the smuggling of arms and dual-use materials to Hamas through underground tunnels between Egypt and Gaza. Cairo dismisses the claim as baseless and insists that all tunnels were destroyed about a decade ago.
As for Palestinians who fled their homes in northern Gaza, they should be allowed to return without Israeli security checks, provided that guarantees are in place that no members of armed groups will pass through. The proposals also stipulate that Palestinian women, children under 19 years of age and men above the age of 50 will be given priority in the process.
Complete withdrawal
It is not immediately clear whether Israel or Hamas will agree to the new proposals, which the sources said were finalised in the last 72 hours. The US State Department didn’t immediately comment.
However, a source close to Hamas told The National that "any new formula that does not include a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, including from Netzarim [in the central part of the enclave] and Philadelphi, cannot be accepted".
"We have not received any new proposals yet," said the source who accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of launching a wide assault on cities and camps in the occupied West Bank "to compensate for his inability to free the prisoners by force".
US mediators and officials had in the past been upbeat about the prospect of reaching a deal but were consistently proved wrong, with both Israel and Hamas sticking to their demands.
“This one is no different,” said one of the sources. “There is no guarantee that the new proposals will produce a deal. Absolutely none.”
The sources spoke after about two weeks of talks behind closed doors in Egypt and Qatar by technical, mid-level negotiators and mediators. Meanwhile, the White House said late on Sunday that US President Joe Biden would sit down on Monday with US mediators following the death of American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages in Gaza.
The war in Gaza started after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel last October left about 1,200 dead, according to Israeli tallies. The attackers also abducted dozens of hostages. Israel responded with a fierce military campaign that, according to the enclave's Health Ministry, killed more than 40,700 and wounded 94,224. The vast majority of the territory's 2.3 million residents have been displaced, some several times, with large areas of built-up areas razed to the ground.
A week-long truce in late November allowed 100 hostages held by Hamas to walk free. Hamas and other militant groups are now believed to be holding less than 100 hostages, including about 40 who died while in captivity.
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
New Zealand 15
Tries: Laumape, J Barrett
Conversions: B Barrett
Penalties: B Barrett
British & Irish Lions 15
Penalties: Farrell (4), Daly
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Match info:
Portugal 1
Ronaldo (4')
Morocco 0
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Director: Shady Ali
Cast: Boumi Fouad , Mohamed Tharout and Hisham Ismael
Rating: 3/5
Company%20Profile
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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The studios taking part (so far)
- Punch
- Vogue Fitness
- Sweat
- Bodytree Studio
- The Hot House
- The Room
- Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
- Cryo
Other key dates
-
Finals draw: December 2
-
Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Shafaf, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Noof KB, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m
Winner: Taamol, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Mekhbat, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
