Diary

Here are main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza City - Humanitarian and military developments in Gaza Strip on day 135 of Israeli onslaught, which so far has killed more than 28,858, injured 68,677 others, and caused mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

Threat of famine among Palestinians in Gaza Strip endangers people's lives due to shortage of humanitarian aid and Israeli restrictions on its entry, amid warnings that residents of northern districts are now unable to find food.

Wave of reverse displacement from Rafah in southern Gaza Strip to central Gaza amid Israeli preparations to expand ground offensive into city of Rafah, home to 1.4 million Palestinian residents seeking refuge from war, despite warnings of humanitarian catastrophe in city from planned Israeli attack.

Ramallah - Daily military incursions by Israeli army into cities and towns of occupied West Bank, which have killed nearly 400 Palestinians and injured over 4,400 others since Oct. 7. Number of arrests has risen to 7,060, reaching record highs over last 4 months, exceeding those seen annually in previous years.

LEBANON

Beirut - Escalation and further exchanges of gunfire along Lebanese-Israeli border since beginning of war on Gaza.

YEMEN

Sanaa - Growing tension in Red Sea due to Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel and US retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen.

GERMANY

Munich - 3rd and final day of Munich Security Conference. Key speakers to include Palestine’s Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno, and Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly.

SPECIAL REPORTS

‘Principle of avoidance and prudence’ key to eliminating plastic pollution: Expert

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) – The “principle of avoidance and prudence” should be the motto for both individuals and states on using plastics in all aspects of life, according to a concerned academic.

Sedat Gundogdu, a marine biologist at Cukurova University, told Anadolu that he has been doing research into plastic pollution as he serves on a board of spokespersons of a coalition of scientists pushing for an effective plastics agreement.

“Together with this coalition, we are trying to voluntarily provide scientific information to states participating in negotiations of a UN plastics agreement for use in negotiations,” he said.

WITH VIDEO - It is time for permanent cease-fire in Gaza: Maltese foreign minister

By Burak Bir

MUNICH (AA) - In an interview with Anadolu, top Maltese diplomat denounces killing of civilians by Israel in Gaza as they were not responsible for the Oct. 7 attacks, stressing that now it is time for a permanent cease-fire in the besieged enclave.

"Too many innocent lives were lost, children, women and elderly. They are not perpetrators of 7th of October and therefore, they should not be killed in response to that," says Ian Borg.

On Israeli allegations against the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), he says they are closely following investigation but will continue to support the agency.

WITH VIDEO - Israel should do everything asked to do by court: Portugal's top diplomat

By Burak Bir

MUNICH (AA) - Expressing "deep concern" over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Portugal's foreign minister stressed the importance of implementing international law, saying that Israel should "do everything," that it has been asked to do by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

"We are very supportive of the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court, all the big international tribunals," said Joao Gomes Cravinho.

On Israeli allegations against the UNRWA, he called the idea of defunding the agency "completely wrong ... terrible.”