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Negotiations in Egypt between Israel and Hamas on the Gaza ceasefire that ended on March 1 are at a stand still, with neither side willing to make the compromises needed to reach a deal, sources told The National on Monday.
They said Hamas has again rejected a US proposal presented by its Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Instead, the militant group has insisted on a transition to the second phase of a deal brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States. The first phase included a 42-day truce and the release of 33 hostages, including eight deceased, held by the militant group. In exchange, nearly 2,000 Palestinians were released from Israeli jails.
The second phase of the deal involves the release of the remaining 59 hostages held by Hamas in exchange for the freedom of hundreds of Palestinians incarcerated in Israel, including some serving long-time sentences. It also provides for negotiations on a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
The US proposal rejected by Hamas, according to the sources, provides for a 50-day truce and the release by Hamas of five to 11 living hostages in addition to the remains of half the deceased captives. Israel will free a larger number of Palestinians than agreed in the January deal, they said.
The details of the proposal relayed by the sources appeared almost identical with the one presented by Mr Witkoff, who told CNN on Sunday he had offered a “bridge proposal” that would mean five living hostages, including Israeli-American Edan Alexander, are released in return for freeing a “substantial amount of Palestinian prisoners” from Israeli jails.
Mr Witkoff said the offer was “compelling” but added Hamas had provided “an unacceptable response” to the proposal and that “the opportunity is closing fast.”
“Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not,” Mr Witkoff was quoted by his office as saying. “Hamas is well aware of the deadline, and should know that we will respond accordingly if that deadline passes.”
A Hamas official, however, said the group's negotiators “held fruitful discussions with our Egyptian brothers, focusing on ways to advance the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in light of Hamas's acceptance of the updated American proposal.”
Hamas negotiators left Egypt on Sunday night, while the Israeli negotiators stayed on for more talks on Monday with the Egyptian mediators, said the sources.
“The Israelis refused to talk about the second phase and even demanded that Hamas leaders in Gaza leave the strip for exile abroad,” said one source. “Hamas is rejecting all of this.”
The initial phase of the ceasefire took effect on January 19, almost halting more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that killed 1,200 and involved the capture of 250 others taken to Gaza.
The first phase ended in early March, and although both sides have since refrained from an all-out war, they have been unable to agree on the next stage of the ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.
Hamas said on Friday that it was ready to free Mr Alexander and the remains of four others, described by a Hamas official as Israeli-Americans. The group has since demanded negotiations for the second phase.
Israel, however, wants to extend the first phase and insists that any transition to the second phase must include “the total demilitarisation” of Gaza and the removal of Hamas, which has controlled the territory since 2007.
In a bid to pressure Hamas, Israel has this month halted the entry into Gaza of humanitarian assistance and cut off electricity supply.
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.
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
Four tips to secure IoT networks
Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:
- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version
- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number
- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently
- Always create a different guest network for visitors
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
More on animal trafficking
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Cofe
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Amount raised: $13m
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