Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour, flanked by representatives of Arab countries, speaks after the UN Security Council meeting on a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. AFP
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour, flanked by representatives of Arab countries, speaks after the UN Security Council meeting on a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. AFP
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour, flanked by representatives of Arab countries, speaks after the UN Security Council meeting on a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. AFP
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour, flanked by representatives of Arab countries, speaks after the UN Security Council meeting on a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. AFP

Arab countries condemn US veto of resolution calling for Gaza ceasefire


Anjana Sankar
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

Arab countries including the UAE condemned the US veto of a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza as Israel continued to carry out strikes across the battered Palestinian territory overnight into Saturday.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the US veto on Friday made Washington complicit in what he described as war crimes against Palestinians.

In a statement released by the presidency, Mr Abbas also said he held the US responsible for the bloodshed of Palestinian children, women and the elderly in Gaza.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said the US decision to veto the resolution was a “disgrace and another blank cheque given to the occupying state to massacre, destroy and displace”.

The resolution was put forward by the UAE and backed by more than 90 UN member states.

Thirteen of the UN Security Council's members voted in favour of the resolution, with the UK abstaining.

"What is the message we are sending Palestinians if we cannot unite behind a call to halt the relentless bombardment of Gaza?” the UAE’s deputy UN Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab said.

“Indeed, what is the message we are sending civilians across the world who may find themselves in similar situations?”

  • A Palestinian firefighter tackles a blaze at a house after an Israeli strike in Khan Younis, in the south of the Gaza Strip. Reuters
    A Palestinian firefighter tackles a blaze at a house after an Israeli strike in Khan Younis, in the south of the Gaza Strip. Reuters
  • Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis. Reuters
    Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis. Reuters
  • A girl mourns during a funeral at Nasser hospital, in Khan Younis. Reuters
    A girl mourns during a funeral at Nasser hospital, in Khan Younis. Reuters
  • An Israeli fighter jet flies over an area in southern Israel, near the border with the Gaza Strip. AFP
    An Israeli fighter jet flies over an area in southern Israel, near the border with the Gaza Strip. AFP
  • Palestinians walk amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Israeli strike, in Khan Younis. Reuters
    Palestinians walk amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Israeli strike, in Khan Younis. Reuters
  • Wounded Palestinians sit on the floor at Nasser hospital following Israeli air strikes in Khan Younis. Reuters
    Wounded Palestinians sit on the floor at Nasser hospital following Israeli air strikes in Khan Younis. Reuters
  • Smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli strike in Gaza. AFP
    Smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli strike in Gaza. AFP
  • Children walk past a damaged car after an early morning Israeli strike in Rafah. AFP
    Children walk past a damaged car after an early morning Israeli strike in Rafah. AFP
  • Israeli soldiers prepare to launch a drone along the border with Gaza. AFP
    Israeli soldiers prepare to launch a drone along the border with Gaza. AFP
  • Palestinians inspect the damage at the site of an Israeli strike. Reuters
    Palestinians inspect the damage at the site of an Israeli strike. Reuters
  • A woman and a child stand amid the rubble at a kindergarten hit by Israeli bombing in Rafah. AFP
    A woman and a child stand amid the rubble at a kindergarten hit by Israeli bombing in Rafah. AFP

The Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour told the Security Council that the outcome of the vote was disastrous.

“If you are against the destruction and displacement of the Palestinian people, you must stand against this war. And if you support it, then you are enabling this destruction and displacement regardless of your intentions.”

He said every Palestinian life is “hanging in the balance”.

Oman's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing the sultanate's regret over the US veto and its rejection of the move.

The statement renewed Oman's call for the international community to exert all political, diplomatic and legal efforts to end the siege of the Gaza Strip, stop Israel’s attacks, and hold it accountable for the war crimes it may have committed against the Palestinian people.

Hamas, the Iran-backed militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, condemned Washington's move as "unethical and inhumane".

"The US obstruction of the issuance of a ceasefire resolution is a direct participation with the occupation in killing our people and committing more massacres and ethnic cleansing," Ezzat El Reshiq, a member of the group's political bureau, said.

Palestinian health authorities say more than 17,400 people have been killed, most of them civilians, since the Israeli military launched its offensive on Gaza on October 7 in retaliation for attacks by Hamas fighters that killed more than 1,200 people in southern Israel.

The group is still holding more than 100 of the hostages it seized during the attacks, after releasing about half of them during a week-long truce last month in which Israel released numbers of Palestinian prisoners.

Aid agencies demand fresh UN vote

Amnesty International’s secretary general Agnes Callamard said that by vetoing the resolution, the US had shown "callous disregard" for civilian suffering in the face of a staggering death toll, extensive destruction and an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in the occupied Gaza strip.

Aid agencies called on the Security Council to reconvene and pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire.

"We are appalled at the failure of the UN Security Council to authorise a resolution demanding a humanitarian ceasefire and unconditional release of hostages held in Gaza," said the statement from Save The Children, Oxfam, Norwegian Refugee Council, Plan International, Action Against Hunger, Mercy Corps and Care International.

"We call on the UN Security Council to urgently reconvene and pass a resolution which demands a sustained ceasefire, for parties to uphold their obligations under international law and to create the conditions needed to enable humanitarian aid to reach civilians," it said.

A delegation of foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic states called on the US to play "a broader role in pressuring the Israeli occupation for an immediate ceasefire” during a meeting with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Washington on Friday, Qatar's Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on X.

Members also expressed “their disappointment at the failure of the UN Security Council, for the second time, to vote on a resolution for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip for humanitarian reasons, after the United States used its veto power,” the statement said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for urgent reform of the UN Security Council after the resolution was blocked.

"The UN Security Council demand for ceasefire is rejected only by US veto. Is this justice?" Mr Erdogan said at a human rights conference in Istanbul on Saturday.

"The UN Security Council needs to be reformed," he said.

Britain's representative to the United Nations, Barbara Woodward, said the UK abstained from voting on the resolution because it "ignores the fact that Hamas has carried out terrorist acts and are still holding civilians hostage".

Ms Woodward added that Britain was "very concerned" about the number of civilian deaths in Gaza.

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km

Price: Dh133,900

On sale: now 

Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

RESULTS
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Turning%20waste%20into%20fuel
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Most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20the%20Middle%20East
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MOST%20POLLUTED%20COUNTRIES%20IN%20THE%20WORLD
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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

The Specs

Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now

Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.3-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E299hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E420Nm%20at%202%2C750rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12.4L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh157%2C395%20(XLS)%3B%20Dh199%2C395%20(Limited)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
If you go

Flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.

The stay

Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.

EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

UNSC Elections 2022-23

Seats open:

  • Two for Africa Group
  • One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
  • One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
  • One for Eastern Europe Group

Countries so far running: 

  • UAE
  • Albania 
  • Brazil 
Draw

Quarter-finals

Real Madrid (ESP) or Manchester City (ENG) v Juventus (ITA) or Lyon (FRA)

RB Leipzig (GER) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)

Barcelona (ESP) or Napoli (ITA) v Bayern Munich (GER) or Chelsea (ENG)

Atalanta (ITA) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)

Ties to be played August 12-15 in Lisbon

The specs

Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors

Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km

Price: from Dh199,900

On sale: now

What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Dhadak

Director: Shashank Khaitan

Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana

Stars: 3

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
THE BIO

Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren

Favourite travel destination: Switzerland

Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers

Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum

The%20Color%20Purple
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBlitz%20Bazawule%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFantasia%20Barrino%2C%20Taraji%20P%20Henson%2C%20Danielle%20Brooks%2C%20Colman%20Domingo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog

Age: 35

Inspiration: Wife and kids 

Favourite book: Changes all the time but my new favourite is Thinking, Fast and Slow  by Daniel Kahneman

Best Travel Destination: Bora Bora , French Polynesia 

Favourite run: Jabel Hafeet, I also enjoy running the 30km loop in Al Wathba cycling track

Updated: December 09, 2023, 1:29 PM