Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Hamas has rejected a US proposal for a Gaza truce and release of hostages, insisting it would only agree to a comprehensive deal that includes a full Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war, sources said.
They told The National on Saturday that Israel and the US, its closest ally and benefactor, are determined that Hamas puts down its arms, its leaders leave Gaza and for the group's network of tunnels to be destroyed.
They said the Trump administration and Israel, meanwhile, are quietly working towards the resettlement of Gaza's Palestinians, or at least the vast majority of them, away from the territory.
“Israel is insisting on pursuing the voluntary or forcible eviction of Palestinians in Gaza,” said one of the sources. “The Trump administration is fully supportive of Israel on the issue and is doing a great deal of quietly pressuring regional stakeholders to go along.”
Israel has enthusiastically embraced proposals first made by Mr Trump in January to resettle Gaza's Palestinians, mainly in Egypt and Jordan, before effecting a US takeover of the territory on the Mediterranean and turning it into a beach resort.
Egypt and Jordan, along with the UN and many countries, have denounced the proposals, with some labelling the plan as “ethnic cleansing”.
Hamas's rejection of the latest US proposal was conveyed this week by a senior official from the group to Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo, said the sources
News of the US proposal surfaced this week, with sources saying it called for a 21-day truce in Gaza and the initial release of six living hostages, including a dual US-Israeli national, as well as the remains of six more who died while in captivity in the enclave.
In return, Israel would free an as-yet unspecified number of Palestinians detained in its prisons and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, they added.
Hamas is believed to be still holding 59 hostages, of whom 24 are believed to be alive, according to the Israeli military.
The US proposal, however, makes no mention of an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza or a permanent ceasefire; two long-standing demands by Hamas. It also does not include ideas on how postwar Gaza will be run or rebuilt, according to the sources.
Gaza has since the 19-month-old war started seen two ceasefires; one in late November 2023 that lasted a week and another that went into effect on January 19, 2025, and ended on March 1. Gaza remained relatively calm until March 18, when Israel resumed air strikes and ground operations.
Under the latest US proposal, the humanitarian assistance that will flow into Gaza would only be distributed at Israeli-designated “safe zones” in the southern part of the coastal enclave around the city of Rafah, said the sources.
Gaza's estimated 2.3 million residents are facing acute shortages of food, clean water, medicine and fuel as a result of Israel's two-month blockade of the territory, where more than 52,000 Palestinians have died since Israel launched a ground and air offensive there in October 2023 in response to a deadly attack by Hamas on southern Israeli communities.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet voted this week to intensify the offensive against Hamas in Gaza to the point of seizing the entire enclave, according to Israeli officials.
The sources said the newly approved Gaza offensive plan would move the strip's civilian population southward and keep humanitarian aid from falling into the hands of Hamas.
International aid agencies warned on Friday that plans presented by Israel to control aid distribution in Gaza will only increase suffering and death in the devastated Palestinian territory.
“Humanitarian aid should never be used as a bargaining chip,” Unicef spokesman James Elder said in Geneva.
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said a new system for delivering humanitarian aid and food to Gaza was being launched, with deliveries set to begin “very soon”.
A new US-backed group called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has put forward an aid distribution plan along the lines of Israel's demands, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. The group is made up of American security contractors, former government officials, ex-military officers and humanitarian officials.
Mr Elder said that the plan as presented to the aid community appeared “designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic”. He said that it does not comply with Israel’s obligations to allow and facilitate impartial humanitarian relief.
He said that the plan would entrench forced displacement “for political and military purposes”, as Palestinians will be forced to move to be closer to distribution centres.
“More children are likely to suffer and risk death and injury as a consequence of this plan,” Mr Elder said. “There is a simple alternative. Lift the blockade, let humanitarian aid in, save lives.”
With additional reporting by The Associated Press
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The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
US households add $601bn of debt in 2019
American households borrowed another $601 billion (Dh2.2bn) in 2019, the largest yearly gain since 2007, just before the global financial crisis, according to February data from the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
Fuelled by rising mortgage debt as homebuyers continued to take advantage of low interest rates, the increase last year brought total household debt to a record high, surpassing the previous peak reached in 2008 just before the market crash, according to the report.
Following the 22nd straight quarter of growth, American household debt swelled to $14.15 trillion by the end of 2019, the New York Fed said in its quarterly report.
In the final three months of the year, new home loans jumped to their highest volume since the fourth quarter of 2005, while credit cards and auto loans also added to the increase.
The bad debt load is taking its toll on some households, and the New York Fed warned that more and more credit card borrowers — particularly young people — were falling behind on their payments.
"Younger borrowers, who are disproportionately likely to have credit cards and student loans as their primary form of debt, struggle more than others with on-time repayment," New York Fed researchers said.
UAE%20medallists%20at%20Asian%20Games%202023
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How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Company%20profile
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The details
Heard It in a Past Life
Maggie Rogers
(Capital Records)
3/5
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The specs: Volvo XC40
Price: base / as tested: Dh185,000
Engine: 2.0-litre, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 250hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.4L / 100km
