Given the almost unimaginable suffering that has taken place in Gaza for a year and a half, the main reaction to last night’s news of a truce between Israel and Hamas should be one of solemn relief. For the first time since a seven-day truce in November 2023, Gazan civilians can hopefully look forward to the prospect of at least 42 days without Israeli bombardments. The families of Israeli hostages waiting anxiously for their loved ones since the Hamas attacks of October 7 can also feel some hope.
Such relief must be accompanied by swift action, particularly when it comes to getting food, medicine, clothing and fuel to homeless, malnourished and ill people in the ravaged Palestinian territory. As speculation mounted this week that a ceasefire was imminent, the UN on Tuesday said it was preparing to expand humanitarian assistance to Gaza. This readiness to take advantage of the pause in the fighting was encouraging but much else remains uncertain.
Will Israel, Hamas and other Palestinian factions respect the truce? The only precedent in this round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is the November 2023 ceasefire that created an opening for desperately needed humanitarian aid to enter southern Gaza and allowed for the exchange of dozens of Hamas-held hostages for Israeli-held Palestinian prisoners and detainees. However, that truce, although largely successful, was marred by claim and counterclaim that it had been broken.
In the medium term, the focus should be on ensuring that all phases of the deal are met and making this truce a permanent one. Ending the war for good requires a clear plan for urgently needed governance in Gaza, a full Israeli withdrawal and reviving a political settlement process based on two states for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. In short, as the guns fall silent, a level of political and diplomatic momentum must be built that cannot be reversed.
As the truce is due to begin on Sunday, it is also important to reflect on all that Palestinian society has lost. Last Friday, The Lancet medical journal said that its estimate of deaths caused by traumatic injury in Gaza during the first nine months of the war was about 40 per cent higher than that recorded by the Hamas-run health ministry. While the British publication estimates that more than 64,000 Gazans lost their lives, this does not take account of a generation of children scarred by trauma or those who have suffered life-changing injuries. Thousands of people remain missing or in Israeli detention and Gaza has almost no functioning institutions or infrastructure. A truce is only a first step in righting some of these wrongs.
In the medium term, the focus should be on ensuring that all phases of the deal are met and making this truce a permanent one
The relief felt by many today will be rightly tempered by caution. Some in Israel, whose forces have still been bombing Gaza and whose security cabinet will vote on whether to accept or reject the truce later today, are unhappy that the illusory goal of “total victory” in Gaza remains unfulfilled. Israel’s settler-right appear to be particularly angry that their plans of re-occupation will be frustrated by this planned de-escalation. There are other flashpoints – such as the West Bank – where hardliners could try to undermine the fragile ceasefire.
In this new situation, Washington retains a pivotal role. As US president-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House on Monday, many will recall his threat to Hamas that “all hell will break loose” if the remaining Israeli hostages are not released. However, any Gazan could truthfully say that hell broke loose in their homes, their streets and their communities 15 months ago. Despite the many caveats, with a new approach this ceasefire may finally be the first step on the way out of this hell for all in Palestine and Israel.
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 1 Manchester City 2
Huddersfield: Otamendi (45' 1 og), van La Parra (red card 90' 6)
Man City: Agüero (47' pen), Sterling (84')
Man of the match: Christopher Schindler (Huddersfield Town)
Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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
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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.
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES
Mar 10: Norwich(A)
Mar 13: Newcastle(H)
Mar 16: Lille(A)
Mar 19: Middlesbrough(A)
Apr 2: Brentford(H)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
ASSASSIN'S%20CREED%20MIRAGE
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Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
