Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, April 15, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza City - The humanitarian and military situation in the Gaza Strip, on its 192nd day, as Israel continues its relentless onslaught despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the besieged enclave.

The Israeli offensive resulted in killing nearly 33,800 people and injuring at least 76,350 others since last October amid a crippling blockade that has left most of the population on the verge of starvation.

Hundreds of displaced Palestinians attempting to return to their homes in northern Gaza faced gunfire from the Israeli army, resulting in the death of five, including a woman, and several injuries, according to medical sources cited by Anadolu.

Ramallah - Continuous, intermittent attacks by illegal Israeli settlers since early Friday against several towns in the West Bank under the protection of the Israeli army and police. The attacks have resulted in the killing of two people and the wounding of dozens by gunfire, as well as the burning of dozens of homes and vehicles.

Israeli raids in the West Bank since Oct. 7 have led to the killing of 465 Palestinians, injuring around 4,800, and the arrest of 8,215, according to Palestinian sources.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv - Reactions to Iran's retaliation against Israel for the missile attack on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus. Despite Tehran's claim of a successful response, Israel said it intercepted most of the missiles and drones launched from Iran, costing an estimated $1.3 billion. Israel vowed to respond appropriately, while US President Joe Biden informed Netanyahu that Washington opposes Israeli attacks on Iran and will not participate.

EGYPT

Cairo - Developments in negotiations regarding hostage swap and cease-fire in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas. Stalemate persists in indirect negotiations following Hamas's announcement on Saturday evening that it "submitted its response to the mediators in Egypt and Qatar regarding the proposal it received last Monday." The movement did not disclose the content of its response, but it reiterated its demands for a permanent cease-fire, Israeli army withdrawal from all of Gaza, and the return of displaced people to their areas, which the Israeli military considered a negative response.

LEBANON

Beirut - Cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel that broke out last October, in the deadliest clashes between the two sides since their full-scale war in 2006. Clashes between the two sides escalated concurrently with the Iranian attack, with Israeli airstrikes intensifying on villages and towns in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah responded by targeting sites in northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights.

YEMEN

Sanaa - Growing tension in the Red Sea amid Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of ties to Israel and US retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen amid fears of a significant disruption to maritime traffic in one of the busiest global routes for oil and fuel transport.

US

Washington - President Joe Biden to host Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shyaa Al-Sudani for a bilateral meeting at White House. Biden to also host Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

Washington - Statements from the Biden administration regarding the situation in Gaza and Iranian attacks against Israel.

New York - Former President Donald Trump to stand trial for his role in hush money deal with an adult film actress ahead of 2016 presidential election, the first criminal trial for an American president.

New York - UN Security Council to hold an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on Yemen. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg, and Edem Wosornu, the director of operations and advocacy at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, expected to brief.

FRANCE

Paris - France, with the EU and Germany, to host an international humanitarian conference to support Sudan. French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne to attend, along with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

Paris - President Emmanuel Macron to give an interview to broadcasters BFMTV and RMC at 0620GMT about the Paris Olympics.

UK

London - Home Office ministers to respond to lawmakers’ questions in the House of Commons, likely about the bill on Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration).

ARMENIA

Yerevan - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to pay an official visit to Armenia, during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Vahagn Khachaturyan.

BELARUS

Minsk - A meeting of the Russian and Belarusian prime ministers to take place.

UZBEKISTAN

Tashkent - The 2nd Foreign Ministerial meeting of the Central Asia–Gulf Cooperation Council strategic dialogue to be held in the Uzbek capital.

CHINA

Beijing - German Chancellor Scholz currently visiting China, including the commercial hub Shanghai.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad - Statements/reactions on the developing situation in the Middle East following Iran's retaliatory strikes on Israel.

Islamabad - Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arriving in Pakistan on a two-day visit.

SOUTH KOREA

Seoul - Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the top US envoy to the UN, visiting South Korea for engagements to advance bilateral and trilateral cooperation on North Korea and other issues.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Anti-Palestine policies in West intertwined with growing Islamophobia: Expert

By Ahmet Gencturk

Athens – Interview with political scientist Farid Hafez about the underlying reasons for anti-Palestine policies and sentiments in Western countries.

Hafez lays out how this is closely linked to increasing Islamophobia in the West, where leaders paint Palestinians as extremist Muslims as part of a “very deliberate and cynical undertaking.”

He explains that Islamophobia is used as “a trick to reframe” the Palestinian struggle as a “cultural, religious, and civilizational” conflict, while also delving into the history and present state of Islamophobia in Europe and the West.

India’s marathon general election: All you need to know

By Ahmad Adil

New Delhi – Explainer about the general elections in India that will start on April 19 and run in seven phases until June 4.

The story gives all key details about the marathon six-week vote, billed as the world’s largest democratic exercise, including the major parties, contenders, voter statistics, and demographic breakdown.

It includes comments from political commentators Niranjan Sahoo and Sarvesh Dutt about the main issues in the buildup to the vote and expectations for potential outcomes.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with political scientist Farid Hafez about the link between growing Islamophobia and anti-Palestine policies in Western nations, where he explains how this is part of a concerted effort to misrepresent and discredit the Palestinian struggle.