Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Intensive negotiations are under way to reach a Gaza ceasefire agreement with Israel before US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East in May, Hamas officials confirmed.
A delegation of senior Hamas members, led by Khalil Al Hayya, Zaher Jabareen and Nazar Awdallah, arrived in Cairo late on Thursday night for talks with Egyptian mediators, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The head of Israel's Mossad spy agency, David Barnea, was expected in Qatar later on Friday to join officials from the agency who are already there, they added.
Sources told The National earlier that the two sides held “serious” talks in Cairo on the latest Gaza ceasefire proposals, but an agreement may prove elusive again.
Mr Trump is set to visit Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar from May 13-16. It will be the US leader’s first scheduled overseas trip of his second term, after a short visit to the Vatican for Pope Francis’s funeral this weekend.
“There are ongoing attempts, meetings and intensive contacts to reach an agreement as soon as possible,” said a Hamas official.
“There are several formulas on the table, so it’s too early to talk about a final version. A broad range of contacts is ongoing between Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United States to reach an agreement."
Another Hamas official said the latest proposals include a comprehensive ceasefire that would involve the release of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and the entry of “sufficient aid” into the territory.
“With US guarantees, there are high hopes” that a deal can be reached soon, added the official.
According to sources close to the negotiations, the proposals, presented by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, provide for a truce lasting five to seven years, the release of the remaining 59 hostages held by Hamas in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees in Israel, and an end to 18 months of conflict in the enclave.
The proposals also include an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in return for Hamas agreeing to lay down its arms – but not surrender them.
The sources said that Hamas has agreed to lay down its arms during the truce years, but it was unclear if that proposal meets Israel’s declared goal of disarming the group and fully ending its governance and military abilities.
“We in Hamas have no problem,” said a third official when asked about laying down arms and giving up the governance of Gaza. “We have no objection to agreeing on specific terms, including a truce with external guarantees."
Israel was also opposed to the release of several prominent Palestinians serving life sentences in its jails after their conviction in security-related cases. Hamas and Israeli negotiators are also at odds over the mechanisms for implementing an agreement, including the date on which it would go into effect.
US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators brokered a ceasefire in January. It expired on March 1, but the enclave remained relatively quiet until March 18, when Israel resumed air strikes and ground operations.
Israel halted all aid deliveries to Gaza as of March 2, worsening a humanitarian crisis for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
Israel's war in Gaza has to date left at least 51,355 Palestinians dead and more than twice that number wounded, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry, and laid to waste most of the territory’s built-up areas.
It was in response to an October 7 attack by Hamas-led fighters that killed 1,200 people in southern Israel.
Demonstrations by residents weary of the conflict have intensified around the Gaza Strip recently, in a rare display of public dissent against Hamas, which has ruled the territory with an iron fist for nearly two decades.
“From our side, we are ready to understand and agree on any issue that ends the aggression and preserves the rights of our Palestinian people,” claimed one of the Hamas officials.
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The specs
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Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
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
Results
57kg quarter-finals
Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.
60kg quarter-finals
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.
63.5kg quarter-finals
Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.
67kg quarter-finals
Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.
71kg quarter-finals
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.
Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.
81kg quarter-finals
Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
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The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
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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
