A flotilla of about 20 boats carrying pro-Palestinian activists and aid bound for Gaza has set sail from Tunisia after delays and alleged drone strikes.
The group, which has Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg on board, is aiming to break Israel's blockade of Gaza and establish a humanitarian corridor to the Palestinian territory.
But the Global Sumud Flotilla claimed two of its boats were targeted by drone attacks on consecutive nights last week, with Tunisian authorities calling the strikes “premeditated aggression”.
The flotilla left the Tunisian city of Bizerte on Monday after having arrived in the North African country from Barcelona. Yasemin Acar, who is helping co-ordinate the operation, posted images on Instagram of boats departing in the early hours.
Ms Thunberg said before setting sail that the group was “trying to send a message to the people of Gaza that the world has not forgotten about you”.
“When our governments are failing to step up then we have no choice but to take matters into our own hands,” she told news agency AFP.
European Parliament member Rima Hassan, who like Ms Thunberg was detained aboard a previous boat attempting to reach Gaza in June, is also on the latest flotilla and said she feared further attacks. “We are preparing for different scenarios,” she said.
Ms Hassan said the most prominent people in the group have been split between the two largest co-ordinating boats “to balance things out and avoid concentrating all the visible personalities on a single vessel”.
The group's departure had been repeatedly postponed due to security concerns, delays in preparing some of the boats and weather. It describes itself as an independent group not linked to any government or political party.
The flotilla, which also includes vessels that left in recent days from Corsica and Sicily, had originally planned to reach Gaza by mid-September, after two earlier attempts were blocked by Israel in June and July.
On Sunday evening two other ships set sail from the Greek island of Syros to join the flotilla, AFP reported. “This is the way to show Israel that it shouldn't have the right to impose starvation,” said Kostas Fourikos, a 39-year-old crew member of the Greek vessels. “And of course to send the message of solidarity to the Palestinians, who suffer so much.”
In August the UN officially declared famine in and around Gaza city, the Palestinian territory's main urban centre that is home to about a million people. Israel denies the existence of famine in the enclave.
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:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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