Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
The US and 17 other nations on Thursday called on Hamas to release the hostages held in Gaza as a way of ending Israel's war on the beleaguered territory.
In a joint statement, leaders urged Hamas to accept the ceasefire deal currently on the table, which would allow Palestinians to return to their homes and accelerate the entry of humanitarian aid.
“We emphasise that the deal on the table to release the hostages would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza,” the statement said.
“That would facilitate a surge of additional necessary humanitarian assistance to be delivered throughout Gaza, and lead to the credible end of hostilities.”
The development comes after Hamas released a video on Wednesday featuring Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a dual Israeli-American citizen.
Mr Goldberg-Polin has been held hostage in Gaza since October 7, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli authorities.
Experts received the video on Monday and are currently reviewing it, a senior US administration official said.
“We have worked it [the ceasefire deal] out in meticulous detail and Hamas has rejected that,” the official told journalists on a call.
“And because of that we still have fighting ongoing in Gaza, and we're working on other dimensions to the crisis every single day but the key, really, is the hostages.”
The official blamed Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza, for the failure of any ceasefire deal to materialise.
“There have been a number of times where the negotiations have made significant progress outside with Hamas leaders, you know, living in fancy hotels,” the official said.
“But Sinwar is the ultimate decision maker, and when the question goes to him, whether or not you’re going to sign up … the answer that comes back from Sinwar personally, is no.”
The official added that “justice will come” for the Hamas leader.
President Joe Biden, who is running for re-election, is eager to secure a ceasefire of at least six weeks in Gaza.
More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed amid the Israeli siege of Gaza and famine is looming across much of the coastal enclave.
But efforts to broker a deal have stalled.
“There's a deal on the table, it meets nearly all of the demands that Hamas has had, including key elements,” the US official said.
“What they need to do is release the vulnerable category passages to get things moving.”
More than 100 hostages are believed to currently be held in Gaza by Hamas as well as other armed groups. Their locations are largely unknown.
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')
Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
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
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
Lowest Test scores
26 - New Zealand v England at Auckland, March 1955
30 - South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Feb 1896
30 - South Africa v England at Birmingham, June 1924
35 - South Africa v England at Cape Town, April 1899
36 - South Africa v Australia at Melbourne, Feb. 1932
36 - Australia v England at Birmingham, May 1902
36 - India v Australia at Adelaide, Dec. 2020
38 - Ireland v England at Lord's, July 2019
42 - New Zealand v Australia in Wellington, March 1946
42 - Australia v England in Sydney, Feb. 1888
'Downton Abbey: A New Era'
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan
Rating: 4/5
