Morning Briefing: April 2, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Tuesday with, including the death of foreign aid workers in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, a suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria, and Israel passing a law to shut down Al Jazeera.

TOP STORIES

• 4 foreign aid workers killed in Israeli airstrike in Gaza

Five people working for an aid organization, including four foreigners, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on their vehicle in the central Gaza Strip, the Government Media Office in Gaza said Monday.

"Israel struck a foreign team that consists of British, Polish and Australian nationals and another nationality still not identified, in addition to a Palestinian from Gaza," said Ismail Thawabteh, the director of the office, at a press conference.

Eyewitnesses told Anadolu that the vehicle belonged to World Central Kitchen (WCK), a US-based aid organization.

• 7 IRGC officers killed in suspected Israeli attack on Iran’s consulate in Syria

A top commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and six other officers were killed in a missile strike targeting the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus on Monday.

In a statement, IRGC's public relations wing announced the killing of Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander of the IRGC's Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon, along with others.

The Syrian Defense Ministry accused Israel of carrying out the attack from the Golan Heights.

• Israel’s Knesset passes law to close Al Jazeera

Israel’s Knesset on Monday passed legislation allowing the closure of satellite television network Al Jazeera’s operations in the country.

The law was passed 71 to 10 in its second and third readings in the Knesset plenum.

The first reading of the bill was passed on Feb. 12.

Under the bill, the communications minister will be empowered to shut down foreign networks operating in Israel and confiscate their equipment if the defense minister identifies that their broadcasts pose “an actual harm to the state’s security.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Israel has agreed to take US concerns over a potential military operation in Rafah into account, said a joint statement following a virtual meeting Monday between officials from both sides.

• The killing of humanitarian aid workers by Israel is "a tragedy," the US-based aid organization World Central Kitchen (WCK) said Monday.

• Syria condemned what it described as "fascist Israeli aggression" targeting the Iranian consulate in the capital Damascus on Monday.

• The Israeli army on Monday said its jets struck several targets of the Hezbollah group in southern Lebanon

• Footage that emerged from Gaza's largest hospital after a 14-day Israeli incursion is strong evidence that Tel Aviv seeks to eradicate Palestinians, Türkiye's Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

• Australia's prime minister on Tuesday demanded accountability from Israel over the killing of an Australian aid worker in the Gaza Strip.

• Spain plans to officially recognize the State of Palestine "before the summer," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Monday.

• A court in Islamabad on Monday suspended the jail sentence of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in a case pertaining to the illegal selling of state gifts.

• Iran sent an "important message" to the US on Tuesday over a suspected Israeli attack the day before on its consulate in Syria.

• Thousands of Israelis rallied for a second day on Monday in front of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in West Jerusalem demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government resigns.

• The US is considering approving the sale of up to 50 new F-15 fighter jets and munitions to Israel in a deal expected to be worth at least $18 billion, reports said Monday.

SPORTS

• Formula 1 owner Liberty Media to take over MotoGP for $4.5B

Formula One owner Liberty Media has agreed to buy MotoGP from Spain-based owners Dorna in a deal valued at $4.5 billion.

"Liberty Media will acquire 86% of MotoGP with MotoGP management retaining approximately 14% of their equity in the business," the US media conglomerate, which took control of F1 in 2017, said in a statement.

• Fenerbahce's Osayi-Samuel, Oosterwolde, Egribayat referred to disciplinary board

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) on Monday said several players and staff members of Fenerbahce and Trabzonspor were referred to the Professional Football Disciplinary Committee (PFDK) due to violence after a March 17 Super Lig game.

Fenerbahce players Bright Osayi-Samuel, Jayden Oosterwolde and Irfan Can Egribayat; Fenerbahce club officials Kursat Ciftlik and Okan Ozkan, along with Trabzonspor coach Egemen Korkmaz, were referred to the PFDK in accordance with Article 45 of disciplinary rules due to "fights."

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• World Bank launches $2B renewable initiative in Europe and Central Asia

The World Bank Board approved a pioneering $2 billion initiative to enhance energy security and affordability by scaling up renewable energy in emerging and developing economies in Europe and Central Asia, the bank announced on Monday.

The Europe and Central Asia Renewable Energy Scale-up (ECARES) program is a 10-year, multi-phased initiative that aims to enable, in the first phase, the addition of 15 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity.

• Worries over tighter oil supply drive price rises

Oil prices increased on Monday with worries over tighter oil supply from tensions in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine War.

International benchmark Brent crude traded at $87.24 per barrel at 9.31 a.m. local time (0631 GMT), up from the closing price of $86.96 per barrel in the previous trading session.