Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
With international pressure mounting for Israel and Hamas to extend their truce in the Gaza Strip, Israelis are grappling over whether they want a prolonged pause in hostilities.
The four-day truce from November 24 was extended by two days and was set to expire early on Thursday, with Israel pledging a quick resumption of its air-and-ground campaign that Gaza authorities say has killed more than 15,000 people, most of them women and children.
The pause in fighting has created an opening for desperately needed humanitarian aid to enter southern Gaza and has allowed for the exchange of dozens of Hamas-held hostages for Israeli-held Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Hamas and aligned militants took about 240 people hostage on October 7 during their attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people.
So far, Hamas has released around 60 Israeli hostages, all of them civilian women or children, and has separately freed 21 citizens of Thailand, the Philippines and Russia. Another exchange was planned for Wednesday night.
Israel has released three Palestinians for each hostage Hamas has set free.
In Jerusalem, Israelis expressed a desire to see more hostages freed but they worried that Hamas is regrouping every moment the truce is in place.
“We are between a rock and a hard place,” Batya Green, a local whose brother is serving with the Israeli military in Gaza, told The National.
“We are eager to see the hostages come home … but a lot of soldiers with [my brother] are very nervous about losing momentum.”
Yossi Shmentov, another Jerusalem resident, said that while he too wanted the hostages home, he saw the truce as a sign of weakness from the Israeli government and said he did not want it extended.
“You don't negotiate with terrorists, it gives them vitality and power. Being weak about it is going to create another 7/10,” he added, referring to October 7.
Hamas has been designated a terrorist organisation by several western powers including the US and EU.
CIA head Bill Burns and the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency were reportedly in Doha on Tuesday for a series of meetings initiated by Qatar to discuss the potential terms of an extended deal, with Egyptian officials also attending.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to visit Israel and the West Bank on Thursday, his third such trip since October 7.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday underscored that Israel will resume its campaign to eliminate Hamas regardless of the length of any temporary ceasefire.
“After this phase of returning our abductees is exhausted, will Israel return to fighting? So my answer is an unequivocal yes,” he said.
“There is no way we are not going back to fighting until the end.”
Israeli political scientist Gerald Steinberg said there was a “50/50 chance” Wednesday's truce would be extended while Mr Blinken is in Israel, provided the release of hostages continues.
“At the same time, Blinken will hear from every Israeli official that Israel is absolutely committed to removing Hamas from power and destroying its military infrastructure,” Mr Steinberg said.
Mr Steinberg, a professor of politics at Bar Ilan University, also said Mr Blinken would be discussing ways to prevent Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon from upping its attacks on Israel if hostilities in Gaza resume.
“If we're going to have a return to large-scale combat in the next day or two or three, then it's very likely that Hezbollah will escalate beyond what is done before to try to help save Hamas and Israel will respond very strongly to that,” he said.
“We may see an escalation and perhaps Blinken will try to come up with ways of preventing a spiral of conflict in the north.”
The pause in fighting has allowed the entry of more humanitarian aid into Gaza, where conditions are “catastrophic”, according to the UN.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the US – which is also supplying bombs to the Israeli military – had airlifted about 25 tonnes of medical supplies and food to Egypt that would be delivered to Gaza in the first of three planned shipments.
In Jerusalem's Old City, Palestinian shopkeeper Ali Quais said Hamas had looked after the hostages well and said the only way out of the protracted Palestinian-Israeli conflict was for Israel to end its blockade of Gaza.
“We need peace,” he said. “People have to live together.”
Jerusalem resident Avi Attias said what is happening in Gaza is heartbreaking.
“What can I say? They [Hamas] didn't leave us any choice,” he said, referring to the civilian toll in Gaza.
The latest from the Israel-Gaza war – in pictures
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Brief scoreline:
Toss: South Africa, elected to bowl first
England (311-8): Stokes 89, Morgan 57, Roy 54, Root 51; Ngidi 3-66
South Africa (207): De Kock 68, Van der Dussen 50; Archer 3-27, Stokes 2-12
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
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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 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
HOW TO WATCH
Facebook: TheNationalNews
Twitter: @thenationalnews
Instagram: @thenationalnews.com
TikTok: @thenationalnews
The%20Roundup
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Alnamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMicrofinance%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFamily%20offices%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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RESULT
Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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RESULT
Aston Villa 1
Samatta (41')
Manchester City 2
Aguero (20')
Rodri (30')
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
