Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
The White House on Thursday said that the death toll in Gaza cannot be taken “at face value”, but did not dispute that thousands of Palestinians, among them civilians and children, have been killed in the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.
White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said that information coming from the health ministry in Gaza cannot be trusted, as it is run by Hamas.
“We all know that Gaza's administrative health is just a front for Hamas, it is run by Hamas, a terrorist organisation,” Mr Kirby told reporters.
“We can't take anything coming out of Hamas including the so-called Ministry of Health at face value.”
Pressed by a journalist on whether he would dispute that thousands of people have been killed since Israel's siege of Gaza began, Mr Kirby answered: “We absolutely know that the death toll continues to rise in Gaza, of course we know that.
“We would not dispute that.”
Mr Kirby's comments come a day after President Joe Biden shed doubt on the number of civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip.
“I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed,” Mr Biden said. “I'm sure innocents have been killed and it's a price of waging war.
“But I have no confidence in the number that the Palestinians are using.”
On October 7, Hamas gunmen launched an attack on southern Israel, killing 1,400 people. Israel responded by launching daily aerial attacks on Gaza, killing more than 7,000 people, according to the health ministry.
In response to Mr Biden's comments, Gaza's health ministry on Thursday published a 212-page report with a list of the names, identification numbers, genders and ages of 6,747 people it said have been killed since October 7.
An additional 281 people, including 248 children, were listed as “unidentified”, bringing the total to 7,028.
The report said the death toll is likely to be much higher as it does not include those missing or not brought to hospital.
The years Ramadan fell in May
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
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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
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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