Morning Briefing: April 21, 2024

By Zehra Nur Duz

Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Sunday with, including the retrieval of 50 Palestinian bodies following the Israeli army's attacks in southern Gaza, an exclusive interview with Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh and the US House passing a $95 billion aid package to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

TOP STORIES

• Bodies of 50 Palestinians killed by Israeli army recovered in southern Gaza

The Palestinian Civil Defense Administration in the Gaza Strip said late Saturday that the bodies of 50 Palestinians killed by the Israeli army were recovered from a mass grave in the southern Khan Younis province.

"Today, our teams in the Khan Younis Governorate uncovered the bodies of 50 martyrs from different age groups who were collected by the occupation forces and buried collectively at Nasser Hospital,” it said in a statement.

The statement underlined that there are still bodies in mass graves and under the rubble, adding that civil defense teams continue search and recovery efforts.

• US provides political protection for Israeli massacres: Hamas chief

Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh said Saturday that tens of thousands of people in the Gaza Strip have been killed using US weapons, adding that Washington's veto against the establishment of a Palestinian state at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) effectively provides political protection for Tel Aviv's actions.

"The US position is deceptive, even though it says it does not want civilians to be harmed, this is an attempt at manipulation. All the civilians killed in Gaza, thousands, tens of thousands of martyrs, were killed with US weapons, with US rockets, under US political protection. What does the US veto of the cease-fire resolution at the UNSC mean? It means that the US is giving full protection and umbrella to the continuation of the massacres and murders against Gaza,” Haniyeh said in an exclusive interview with Anadolu.

• US House passes foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

The US House of Representatives on Saturday passed a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other US allies overseas.

House Speaker Mike Johnson unveiled a plan to hold votes on four separate foreign aid bills, to later come together into a package, a move that has angered some far-right House Republicans.

Besides aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, the fourth bill includes other national security priorities, including a possible TikTok ban, a provision to help pay for aid by using seized Russian assets, and sanctions and other measures to confront Russia, China and Iran.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Thousands took to the streets Saturday in Berlin, Dublin and Geneva to condemn Israel's attacks on Gaza and show support for Palestine.
• A child is killed every 10 minutes in the Gaza Strip, according to an assessment Saturday by the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees, or UNRWA.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday received Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh, Sameh Shoukry, Egypt’s foreign minister, who is paying an official visit to Türkiye.
• Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Saturday stressed the need to open 6 Israeli crossings with the besieged Gaza Strip.
• At least 3,814 humanitarian aid trucks have entered the Gaza Strip since the beginning of April, far less than what the US administration claims, the Gaza media office said on Saturday.
• Tens of thousands protested Saturday in several cities in Israel, including Tel Aviv and West Jerusalem, to demand early elections and the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
• At least one member of Hashd al-Shaabi militia group was killed and eight others were injured on Saturday in an explosion that targeted its headquarters in the Babil province in central Iraq.
• The man who set himself on fire near the Manhattan courthouse where former President Donald Trump was standing trial succumbed to his injuries and died.
• At least 58 people were killed after a boat capsized in the Central African Republic, an official said Saturday.
• Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Saturday that he agreed to return to Azerbaijan several villages in the northeastern Tavush region.
• Russia said on Saturday that a Russian war correspondent, Semyon Eremin, was killed by a Ukrainian drone.

SPORTS

• Turkish rider Razgatlioglu finishes 2nd in first race in Netherlands

Turkish rider Toprak Razgatlioglu finished the first race in second place in the 3rd leg of the 2024 World Superbike Championship in the Netherlands on Saturday.

The race at the TT Circuit Assen ended early when the red flag waved with seven laps to go due to track conditions.

The 21-lap race ended with a red flag with 14 laps completed, with Tech3 E-Racing rider Italian Nicholas Spinelli winning the first race in the Netherlands and Ducati's Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista finishing third.

• Silva brings 1-0 FA Cup semifinal victory to Manchester City against Chelsea

Bernardo Silva brought a 1-0 FA Cup semifinal victory to Manchester City against Chelsea on Saturday.

The Portuguese midfielder's late winner in the 84th minute carried the Sky Blues to the final at London's Wembley Stadium.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Türkiye's Central Bank signs cooperation pacts with Brazil, Kazakhstan

Türkiye's Central Bank on Saturday announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with its Brazilian counterpart to facilitate increased cooperation.

According to a Turkish Central Bank statement, the memorandum was signed by the national bank governors in Washington on Friday. The aim of the collaboration between the Turkish and Brazilian central banks is to promote cooperation and conduct technical activities related to central banking.