Diary

ANKARA (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Middle East

Israel’s destructive assault on Gaza

Relentless Israeli bombardment caused rising Palestinian casualties in the face of worsening humanitarian conditions.

At least nine Palestinians were killed and several injured Friday in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza. Medical officials told Anadolu that two Palestinians were killed, and others injured when an Israeli drone struck a house in Gaza City’s Al-Zaytoun neighborhood. In another attack, four Palestinians were killed instantly when an Israeli drone targeted a civilian gathering in Al-Karama, northwest of the Gaza Strip.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) reiterated on Friday that Gaza is in a dire humanitarian crisis, saying adequate aid has never been available during Israel's 13-month offensive.

The overall death toll in the Palestinian enclave since October last year soared to 43,764, with 103,450 others injured, the Health Ministry in the enclave said on Thursday.

Israel’s broadening blockade, ground invasion in northern Gaza Strip

Israel's over-month-long siege, incursion, and bombardment of the northern Gaza Strip have exacerbated shortages of food, water, fuel, and medicine.

The Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza reported on Friday that its operations in northern Gaza have been forcibly suspended for 24 days, leaving thousands of residents without medical or humanitarian services as Israel's assault continues.

Israeli onslaught in Lebanon

Israel's attacks on Lebanon and the simmering conflict with Hezbollah continue, with the Lebanon-based group targeting Israel with rockets and drones.

On Friday, 12 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a civil defense center in Douris, Lebanon’s Baalbek district.

Israeli warplanes also carried out at least two airstrikes in southern Beirut on Friday, shortly after issuing evacuation orders to residents in the area, Lebanese media reported.

Lebanon cease-fire efforts

Developments in Israel and Lebanon's ongoing cease-fire negotiations. Israel expects Lebanon to respond to the US-backed cease-fire proposal within a few days, Israel's public broadcaster KAN reported on Friday.

An unnamed Israeli official was quoted by the broadcaster as saying, “Hezbollah will respond to the US outline within a few days.”

Media reports indicated on Thursday that US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson presented a cease-fire proposal to Beirut, although details of the proposal were not disclosed.

Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s office scandals

Developments on several unfolding scandals and leaked documents involving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

The scandals included attempts to alter documents regarding early warnings before the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, efforts to blackmail a senior officer for classified information, and a video showing former Defense Minister Gallant being blocked from entering Netanyahu's office after the Gaza war began.

Tzachi Braverman, Netanyahu's chief of staff, was questioned about the protocol falsification, Israel’s Channel 13 reported on Thursday.

The leaked documents also aimed at giving the impression that the late leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, Yahya Sinwar, was unwilling to reach an agreement on a hostage swap and cease-fire in Gaza.

West Bank raids

Israel conducts almost daily military actions and incursions into Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank, and illegal Israeli settlers continue to attack and damage Palestinian property.

A group of Israeli illegal settlers on Friday desecrated a mosque and harassed Palestinian residents in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, escalating tensions in the area amid a surge in settlers' violence in recent weeks
Israel has killed over 780 people since October of last year, including 160 children, injured nearly 6,300 others, and detained more than 11,700.

Europe

UK anti-racism summit

Anti-racism organization hosts an international summit to discuss the current state of anti-racism and anti-fascism. Speakers include Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) General Secretary Fran Heathcote, MPs Diane Abbott, Jeremy Corbyn and Bell Ribeiro-Addy, and international anti-fascists from France, Germany, and Greece.

South America

PERU

Joe Biden-Xi Jinping meeting in Lima

US President Joe Biden to hold a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the Peruvian capital of Lima on the sidelines of Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Africa

Southern Africa regional bloc meets over post-election tensions in Mozambique

An extraordinary four-day summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a 16-member regional bloc, begins in Zimbabwe to find a solution to Mozambique's disputed elections, which have resulted in violent protests. Around 50 people have died in clashes between protesters and police.

The summit will also discuss the recent historic transition of power in Botswana, the general election in Mauritius, and upcoming elections in Namibia, among other issues.

Gabon to vote in referendum on proposed new constitution

The Gabonese to vote in a referendum on a new proposed constitution that removes the position of prime minister and proposes a 7-year presidential term that can be renewed once.

Gabon’s transitional military rulers say the new constitution would be a major step toward restoring civilian rule following the 2023 coup that ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba.

Asia-Pacific

Developments on Korean Peninsula

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high amid an ongoing escalation over the alleged deployment of North Korean soldiers to Russia, while South Korea has threatened to lift the ban on arms supplies to Ukraine.

Sports

2024-25 UEFA Nations League matchday 5 (Football)

Türkiye vs. Wales (League B Group B4)

Germany vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (League A Group A3)

Netherlands vs. Hungary (League A Group A3)