Hamas and Israel reach Gaza ceasefire deal, pausing 15 months of fighting


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Israel and Hamas have reached a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by the militant group, mediators announced on Wednesday night, bringing hope for an end to a war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, destroyed the territory and threatened to start a wider regional conflict.

"Qatar, Egypt and US's efforts succeeded in securing ceasefire deal in Gaza," Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, said at a news conference in Doha, where mediators from the three countries, along with Hamas and Israeli negotiators, were involved in the latest push for a deal. The ceasefire will take effect on January 19, said Sheikh Mohammed, who has been as his nation's chief mediator.

"The two belligerents in the Gaza Strip have reached a deal on the prisoner and the hostage swap, and [the mediators] announce a ceasefire in the hopes of reaching a permanent ceasefire between the two sides."

All eyes will be on whether Israel decides to strike Gaza in the next two days, claiming it is targeting the remnants of Hamas.

But news of the agreement sparked an outpouring of joyful relief in Gaza.

"Thank God that we have lived to see this moment," said Reem Al Shoubaki, 29, from Gaza City's Al Daraj district. 'But our hearts ache for those who have lost family and children in this brutal war."

  • Palestinians celebrate the announcement of a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel in Deir Al Balah. AP
    Palestinians celebrate the announcement of a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel in Deir Al Balah. AP
  • Family members of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and their supporters react to ceasefire reports during a protest outside the Likud party headquarters in Tel Aviv. EPA
    Family members of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and their supporters react to ceasefire reports during a protest outside the Likud party headquarters in Tel Aviv. EPA
  • Palestinians take to the streets to celebrate the news. AP
    Palestinians take to the streets to celebrate the news. AP
  • Palestinians were glued to TV screens as they eagerly awaited news of a ceasefire deal. AP
    Palestinians were glued to TV screens as they eagerly awaited news of a ceasefire deal. AP
  • Palestinians celebrate in Deir Al Balah. AP
    Palestinians celebrate in Deir Al Balah. AP
  • Palestinians gather on the streets to celebrate the ceasefire agreement. EPA
    Palestinians gather on the streets to celebrate the ceasefire agreement. EPA
  • People watch the live television broadcast of a media conference by Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman in Khan Younis. AFP
    People watch the live television broadcast of a media conference by Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman in Khan Younis. AFP
  • Palestinians celebrate in Deir Al Balah. AP
    Palestinians celebrate in Deir Al Balah. AP
  • Palestinians react to news of the truce deal in Khan Younis. Reuters
    Palestinians react to news of the truce deal in Khan Younis. Reuters
  • Jubilant scenes in Deir Al Balah. Reuters
    Jubilant scenes in Deir Al Balah. Reuters
  • Palestinians in Khan Younis react to news of a ceasefire deal. Reuters
    Palestinians in Khan Younis react to news of a ceasefire deal. Reuters
  • Demonstrators embrace during a protest calling for action to secure the release of Israeli hostages, outside the Israeli Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv. AFP
    Demonstrators embrace during a protest calling for action to secure the release of Israeli hostages, outside the Israeli Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv. AFP

A visibly relieved US President Joe Biden said the negotiations to reach a Gaza ceasefire had been some of the "toughest" of his career.

"I'm deeply satisfied this day has come, finally come," he said in a televised statement.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog gave a cautious welcome to the announcement of the deal. "I say in the clearest terms: This is the right move," he said. "This deal ... will bring with it deeply painful, challenging and harrowing moments," he added, alluding to domestic opposition to the agreement.

Hamas said the ceasefire was the "result of the legendary steadfastness of our great Palestinian people and our valiant resistance in the Gaza Strip".

The US, Egypt and Qatar have spent the past year trying to broker an agreement to pause the fighting and secure the release of the hostages captured by Hamas on October 7, 2023, during an attack on southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people. Nearly 100 of the around 250 people kidnapped by Hamas are still being held in Gaza and the Israeli military believes at least a third of those are dead.

The attack sparked an Israeli response that has to date killed more than 46,700 people and injured over twice that number, according to Gaza's health authorities. Most of the Palestinian enclave's 2.3 million people have been displaced and huge areas of built-up regions reduced to rubble. Dozens are still being killed daily in Gaza.

The announcement of a deal follows 15 months of war that has significantly altered the political and military landscape in the Middle East. The Gaza conflict sparked another war in Lebanon, drew Iran into an exchange of direct attacks with Israel and prompted Tehran's proxy in Yemen, the Houthis, to attack shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade.

The deal provides for an initial six-week truce during which Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for a number of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli jails, Sheikh Mohammed said.

Also during the 42-day truce, Israeli forces will withdraw eastward away from densely populated residential areas to positions alongside the Palestinian side of the Gaza-Israel border.

The deal also provides for the the return home of Palestinians displaced by the war, and enabling the departure of the sick and wounded to receive treatment abroad, Sheikh Mohammed said.

Palestinians inspect the rubble of the Yassin Mosque after it was hit by an Israeli air strike at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. AP
Palestinians inspect the rubble of the Yassin Mosque after it was hit by an Israeli air strike at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. AP

The first phase also involves the large-scale delivery and distribution of humanitarian assistance in Gaza, as well as the rehabilitation of hospitals, health centres and bakeries. It also includes the entry of machinery to remove rubble, fuel and a large number of caravans and tents to house those who have lost their homes as a result of the war.

Sheikh Mohammed said the mediators will remain "in constant and continuous contact" with Israel and Hamas for the exchange of lists of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and ensure that their release is carried out in a safe and smooth manner.

Negotiations over a second phase of the agreement will begin by the 16th day of the first phase and are expected to include the release of all remaining hostages, including Israeli male soldiers, a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israel from Gaza.

A third phase is expected to see the return of all remaining bodies of hostages and the start of Gaza's reconstruction, supervised by Egypt, Qatar and the UN.

The ceasefire agreement will first need to be approved by the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his security cabinet. If successfully implemented, it will give Gaza its first respite from the fighting since a week-long truce in November 2023.

It will also bring to an end more than a year of fruitless efforts to reach a deal, with negotiations frequently faltering in the final stages. The process, however, was re-energised when Donald Trump won the US presidential election in November and after the president-elect repeatedly threatened there would be “hell to pay” if the hostages were not released before his January 20 inauguration.

Steve Witkoff, Mr Trump's nominated Middle East envoy, played a role in the final push for a deal, joining David Barnea, the director of Israel's Mossad spy agency, Ronen Bar, director of Israel's Shin Bet internal security, and Brett McGurk, the departing Middle East envoy for US President Joe Biden.

CREW
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The%20specs
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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

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: CVT auto

Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km

On sale: now

Price: from Dh195,000 

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPOPC%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAmna%20Aijaz%2C%20Haroon%20Tahir%20and%20Arafat%20Ali%20Khan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eart%20and%20e-commerce%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%20u%3C%2Fstrong%3Endisclosed%20amount%20raised%20through%20Waverider%20Entertainment%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8

Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Price: from Dh850,000

On sale: now

Company profile

Company: Rent Your Wardrobe 

Date started: May 2021 

Founder: Mamta Arora 

Based: Dubai 

Sector: Clothes rental subscription 

Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded 

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Match info

Uefa Champions League Group H

Manchester United v Young Boys, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)

The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8

Power: 611bhp

Torque: 620Nm

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Price: upon application

On sale: now

Profile

Company: Justmop.com

Date started: December 2015

Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan

Sector: Technology and home services

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai

Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month

Funding:  The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups. 

 

 

Result

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby

8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

McLaren GT specs

Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: seven-speed

Power: 620bhp

Torque: 630Nm

Price: Dh875,000

On sale: now

The specs: 2018 Bentley Bentayga V8

Price, base: Dh853,226

Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 550hp @ 6,000pm

Torque: 770Nm @ 1,960rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L / 100km

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus 

MATCH INFO

Burnley 1 (Brady 89')

Manchester City 4 (Jesus 24', 50', Rodri 68', Mahrez 87')

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

Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 402bhp

Torque: 760Nm

Price: From Dh280,000

57%20Seconds
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Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Citizenship-by-investment programmes

United Kingdom

The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).

All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.

The Caribbean

Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport. 

Portugal

The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.

“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.

Greece

The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.

Spain

The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.

Cyprus

Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.

Malta

The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.

The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.

Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.

Egypt 

A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.

Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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MATCH INFO

Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

Match on BeIN Sports

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 

The Details

Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5 

The specs

Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed

Power: 271 and 409 horsepower

Torque: 385 and 650Nm

Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000

THE BIO

Bio Box

Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul

Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader

Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Favorite food: seafood

Favorite place to travel: Lebanon

Favorite movie: Braveheart

Pad Man

Dir: R Balki

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte

Three-and-a-half stars

Long read

Mageed Yahia, director of WFP in UAE: Coronavirus knows no borders, and neither should the response

Key products and UAE prices

iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229

iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649

iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179

Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Updated: January 16, 2025, 12:35 PM