Gaza hostage release agreement reached with Hamas, Israel's Netanyahu says



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Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that an agreement for the return of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip has been reached.

The announcement came in the early hours of Friday, a day after Mr Netanyahu’s office said there were last-minute snags in talks to free hostages in return for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Palestinians detained in Israel. Hamas rejected the accusations.

"The Prime Minister ordered the political-security cabinet to convene tomorrow. The government will then convene to approve the deal," Mr Netanyahu's office said.

It said that the hostages' families had been informed and that preparations were being made to receive them upon their return.

If approved by Israel's cabinet, the truce agreement would begin on Sunday and involve the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian detainees, after which the terms of a permanent end to the war would be finalised.

Israel and Hamas initially agreed on Wednesday to free dozens of hostages and pause the war in Gaza that has killed more than 46,700 Palestinians. The Israeli military began its offensive after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostage.

Mr Netanyahu's announcement came after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened that his party would leave the Netanyahu government if a ceasefire and hostage deal was approved.

"If the war against Hamas resumes with full force toward achieving its decisive goals and objectives that remain unmet, we will return to the government," Mr Ben-Gvir said, echoing a similar threat to the Prime Minister made earlier by political ally Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

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  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
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  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
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Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

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SPECS
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Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
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Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The specs

Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm

Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh130,000

On sale: now

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

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The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X

Price, as tested: Dh84,000

Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: Six-speed auto

Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm

Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km

Company%C2%A0profile
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The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont

Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950

Engine 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox Eight-speed automatic

Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm

Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
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On sale: December
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The biog

Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.

It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.

They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
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Number of employees: 4
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
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Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Full name: Aisha Abdulqader Saeed

Age: 34

Emirate: Dubai

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Updated: January 17, 2025, 6:19 AM