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Residents of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights have appealed for peace, days after a strike killed 12 children in the town, as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah threatened to escalate into a regional war.
"I’m very much in favour of an internationally backed agreement that is clear and protects both sides," Dolan Abu Saleh, head of the local council in the tightly knit Druze-majority town, told The National.
"Everyone here is my family. The 12 dead, the 44 people sitting wounded, they’re all my family."
Mr Abu Saleh said four of those killed were relatives of his.
At the site of the football pitch where the rocket hit on Saturday, damage left by the explosion litters the scene.
Israel says Hezbollah launched the attack, but the Lebanese group denies responsibility.
Wreaths and photos of the dead are tied to a black fence mangled by the blast. On the ground, the uniform green of the AstroTurf suddenly turns to churned up concrete, where the projectile hit. Some blood remains.
At one point three teenage girls in black, all crying, walk on to the pitch holding each other by the shoulders.
Druze black flags to represent mourning flap in the wind, as the snap of cameras and Israeli journalists jostling for interviews with residents and officials add to the sound.
Israel's leaders have sought to embrace the Druze since the attack, but have been met with a mixed response.
After the attack, right-wing members of Israel’s security cabinet showed up in Majdal Shams to mourn, despite a request from Yasser Gadban, a local Druze community leader, for them to stay away.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was met by chants of "murderer" during his visit, while far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has repeatedly called for war against Lebanon, was surrounded by angry locals when he arrived in the area.
Most residents of the Golan Heights did not take Israeli citizenship when Israel annexed the Syrian territory in 1981. They now fear being caught in the crossfire as hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah increase.
“All of the Majdal Shams family lean towards peace. We do not want war or retribution,” Mr Abu Saleh said on Tuesday.
A statement issued by the residents of Majdal Shams on Monday pre-emptively condemned any retaliation.
“The Golan rejects any official incitement and the attempt to exploit the name of Majdal Shams as a political platform at the expense of our children’s blood,” the statement said.
“We reject the shedding of a single drop of blood under the pretext of avenging our children.”
But that appeal appeared to fall on deaf ears.
On Tuesday evening, the Israeli military said it carried out a strike in Beirut that it claimed was aimed at a Hezbollah commander "responsible for the murder of the children in Majdal Shams".
Israel has largely avoided attacking the Lebanese capital since it began strikes on Lebanon, after Hezbollah opened a second front in support of Hamas in Gaza.
Mr Netanyahu had promised a "severe" response to the strike on Majdal Shams.
With the risk of war on the horizon, residents of the town remain focused on mourning their loved ones and recovering from the tragedy.
“We do need support. Despite our strength, we will need help dealing with this tragedy,” Mr Abu Saleh said.
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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
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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
