Diary

Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

GAZA CITY - The Israeli war on the Gaza Strip continues for the 65th day, and the death toll in the enclave has soared to 17,700, with 46,780 others injured. Battles continue between the Israeli forces and the Palestinian factions especially in northern areas of the enclave, Gaza City, and extend to Khan Younis.

RAMALLAH - The Israeli army’s almost daily incursions in the West Bank have continued since the escalation in Gaza. At least 274 people have been killed and 3,700 others detained in the occupied territory since Oct. 7.

LEBANON

BEIRUT – Cross-border attacks on Israel-Lebanon border continue. At least 98 Hezbollah members have been killed in tensions amid Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

DUBAI – COP28 climate change conference continues in the Emirati city.

SPORTS

BARCELONA - Barcelona to take on Girona in Spanish La Liga.

SPECIAL REPORT

UN expert defends stance on Israel's war crimes amid antisemitism accusations

By Gulcin Kazan Doger and Sule Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - The UN special rapporteur on occupied Palestinian territories, who faced criticism in Western media for drawing attention to Israeli war crimes, has addressed accusations and emphasized the effects of her role in a period of perceived UN-level void.

Since taking office in 2022, Francesca Albanese has gained attention for her outspoken stance against the Israeli occupation.

In an interview with Anadolu, she addressed accusations related to her Australia trip, including claims of funding by Palestinian lobby groups and a smear campaign attempting to oust her.

SPECIAL REPORT

US lawyer: Pro-Israel groups stifle Palestinian voices through antisemitism accusations

By Islam Dogru

NEW YORK (AA) - Lawyer Justin Sadowsky says some pro-Israeli groups portray Palestine supporters as antisemitic to delegitimize Palestine.

The echoes of pro-Palestinian statements and protests in the US, especially on university campuses, have continued following the latest Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.

While pro-Israel groups label student demonstrations in support of Palestine as "antisemitism," civil rights advocates emphasize that the actions fall within the constitutionally guaranteed "freedom of expression."

The civil rights lawyer in Washington since 2005 commented on debates about antisemitism and freedom of expression on university campuses in an interview with Anadolu.