The Israeli military's Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, has approved plans for the next phase of the Gaza war on Sunday, and will present it to the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday, Kan News said, clearing the way for its troops to begin a ground assault on the enclave.
Israel will “continue to reshape the security reality” in the region after its operations in Gaza, Iran, Yemen, Lebanon and the occupied West Bank, Kan reported him as saying earlier.
“We will maintain the momentum of Operation Gideon’s Chariots while focusing on Gaza city,” Lt Gen Zamir said, referring to the planned ground assault.
The statement came after Israeli troops bombed Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza city as the military advanced plans to forcibly displace Palestinians to the south of the enclave, despite massive protests in Israel against the latest war plans. At least seven Palestinians were killed on Sunday in Israeli strikes on the courtyard of Al Ahli Hospital.
The Israeli army announced late on Saturday that it was preparing to move Palestinians before the offensive to capture Gaza city, where more than a million people are sheltering. The Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, Cogat, said the supply of tents to the territory would resume on Sunday.
His comments came after the security cabinet voted earlier this month to approve a military offensive in the northern Gaza Strip.
Hamas condemned the planned operation, saying it was part of a “brutal assault to occupy Gaza city”. The Israeli plan to expand the war has drawn widespread criticism, with the UN calling it a “dangerous escalation” that risks worsening “already catastrophic consequences” for Palestinians in Gaza, as well as Israeli captives held by Hamas.
Families of hostages and bereaved Israelis launched a nationwide strike on Sunday to protest against the government's decision to expand the war rather than agree on a ceasefire deal.
The protests were planned throughout the day at 400 sites, with endorsements from thousands of businesses. About a million people were expected to gather in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv.
Major roads were closed in central Israel, while some relatives of hostages said they would set up a tent encampment near the border with Gaza.
The Israeli government last week approved plans for the military, which controls about 75 per cent of Gaza, to launch an assault on Gaza city
In recent days, Gaza city residents have described more frequent air strikes, including in Al Zeitoun neighbourhood. The enclave's civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Bassal said conditions there were rapidly deteriorating, with residents having little to no access to food and water.
The war began with an attack by Palestinian militants from Gaza, led by the Islamist group Hamas, on October 7, 2023. About 1,200 people were killed in the raids on southern Israel and about 240 taken hostage.
Israel has pledged to destroy Hamas and is demanding the group disarm and hand over about 50 hostages still in captivity, of whom 20 are believed to be still alive, in exchange for a ceasefire.
Israel insists that Hamas has no role in the postwar governance of Gaza, while also refusing to allow it to be administered by the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority, based in the occupied West Bank. Far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government are calling for the territory to be taken over by Israel, 20 years after Israel pulled out of Gaza.
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Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Also on December 7 to 9, the third edition of the Gulf Car Festival (www.gulfcarfestival.com) will take over Dubai Festival City Mall, a new venue for the event. Last year's festival brought together about 900 cars worth more than Dh300 million from across the Emirates and wider Gulf region – and that first figure is set to swell by several hundred this time around, with between 1,000 and 1,200 cars expected. The first day is themed around American muscle; the second centres on supercars, exotics, European cars and classics; and the final day will major in JDM (Japanese domestic market) cars, tuned vehicles and trucks. Individuals and car clubs can register their vehicles, although the festival isn’t all static displays, with stunt drifting, a rev battle, car pulls and a burnout competition.
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
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What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
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