Follow the latest updates on the Israel-Gaza violence here.
Ambitious demands by Hamas and Israel's insistence on punishing the militant Palestinian group for killing hundreds of Israelis in a surprise attack are stymying Egypt's efforts to end the latest outbreak of fighting, Egyptian officials said on Sunday.
Egypt's efforts, which are directly overseen by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, are also being hindered by the “unavailability” of powerful field commanders from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) to talk to given that their attention is entirely focused on the fighting, according to the officials.
The officials, who have direct knowledge of Egypt's contacts, spoke to The National.
They said Egypt's contacts over the past 24 hours included talks with senior EU and US officials as well as regional heavyweights like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Qatar. They said contacts were also under way with Iran, Hamas' main regional backer whose relations with Egypt have thawed in recent months after decades of tension.
Israel, for its part, has sought Cairo's help to secure the release of the unspecified number of Israelis taken hostage by Hamas during the militant group's raid into southern Israel on Friday. However, the right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was adamant about severely punishing Hamas before it could enter negotiations for a truce, the officials said.
Egypt borders Israel and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and has in the past mediated truces between Hamas and Israel, most recently in the summer of 2021. Egypt has since then been trying unsuccessfully to arrange a prisoner exchange between the two sides.
Israeli air strikes battered Gaza overnight, killing more than 300 Palestinians and smashing buildings, tunnels and the homes of Hamas officials, as Mr Netanyahu vowed “mighty vengeance for this wicked day”.
“We're going to be attacking Hamas severely and this is going to be a long, long haul,” a military spokesman told reporters.
In a sign of possible further escalation, Israeli artillery responded to mortar fire from Lebanon and drone strikes hit a post of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group along Israel's northern border.
Friday's attack by Hamas was Israel's bloodiest day since Egypt and Syria launched a sudden assault to reclaim lost territory 50 years ago.
The 1973 attack was Egypt's last full-fledged conflict against Israel, which it fought in 1948, 1956 and 1967. In 1979, Egypt became the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel.
“Hamas has significantly raised its expectations from any negotiations over a truce now that it has a large number of hostages,” said one of the Egyptian officials.
“Their initial demands included the release of all those captured since Friday and hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli jails. They also want a freeze on Jewish settlements in the West Bank and international guarantees that Israel will not launch a ground offensive in Gaza.”
Egypt, for its part, is asking Israel not to send troops into Gaza and to spare hospitals, basic services installations and civilians in the narrow coastal strip from its continuing air strikes, said the officials.
Separately, Cairo is in contact with Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah group to urge its leaders not to join the fight, which would raise the danger of the Hamas-Israel conflict spiralling out of control, the officials said.
Egypt has long viewed stability in the Gaza Strip as part of its national security.
The Gaza Strip borders an area in the north of the Sinai Peninsula where Egyptian militants have been fighting government forces for years. Cairo has also been courting Hamas and the more radical PIJ, in large part because it did not want them to turn into a source of support for the Sinai-based militants.
Separately, Egypt has been trying to reconcile rival Palestinian factions in the hope that the long-stagnant peace negotiations with Israel could be revived if the Palestinians spoke with one voice.
Now that Israel and Gaza's militant groups are fighting again, Egypt has put its security forces in the Sinai region close to the strip on high alert.
It has also set up field hospitals near the border with Gaza to treat wounded civilians and instructed hospitals in the Sinai city of El Arish and Ismailia to the West to prepare for a possible influx of Palestinian casualties.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Youth YouTuber Programme
The programme will be presented over two weeks and will cover the following topics:
- Learning, scripting, storytelling and basic shots
- Master on-camera presence and advanced script writing
- Beating the algorithm and reaching your core audience
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Qualifier A, Muscat
(All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv)
Fixtures
Friday, February 18: 10am Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm Semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm Final
UAE squad:Ahmed Raza(captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Bio
Age: 25
Town: Al Diqdaqah – Ras Al Khaimah
Education: Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering
Favourite colour: White
Favourite place in the UAE: Downtown Dubai
Favourite book: A Life in Administration by Ghazi Al Gosaibi.
First owned baking book: How to Be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson.
Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry
4/5
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
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.
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
