Morning Briefing: April 22, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Monday with, including mass graves unearthed at Gaza hospital, Israel vowing to intensify Gaza operation, Türkiye demanding recognition of Palestinian state, and Maldives' ruling party emerging victorious in parliamentary elections.

TOP STORIES

• Scores of bodies found in mass graves in Gaza’s Khan Younis

Palestinians exhumed scores of bodies from two mass graves at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip, according to a local official on Sunday.

“Some 150 bodies have been found in the two graves,” Ismail Al-Thawabteh, the director-general of Gaza’s government media office, told Anadolu.

He said around 700 people are still unaccounted for since the Israeli withdrawal from Khan Younis on April 7 following a 4-month ground offensive, adding that this is a real crime and massacre committed by the Israeli occupation.

• Israel vows to increase ‘military pressure’ on Hamas amid Gaza onslaught

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Sunday to increase “military pressure” on Hamas amid a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip.

“In the coming days, we will increase political and military pressure on Hamas because this is the only way to free our hostages,” Netanyahu said in a recorded speech released by his office on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Passover.

Regarding a hoped-for agreement for a hostage swap with Hamas, Netanyahu claimed that “Hamas draws encouragement from the pressure imposed on the Israeli government.”

• Türkiye calls on international community to recognize Palestine state

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday called on the international community to oppose the US veto on Palestine’s UN bid, and recognize Palestine state.

“It is unjust that Palestine is not allowed to become a member of the UN. We call on the international community to oppose this injustice and recognize the state of Palestine,” said Hakan Fidan in a joint news conference with his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug in Istanbul.

• Maldives' ruling party secures ‘supermajority’ in parliamentary elections

The ruling People's National Congress (PNC) clinched a “supermajority” in Maldives’ parliamentary elections on Sunday, winning over 60 seats.

Over 200,000 Maldivians cast their votes in the polls, with 326 candidates competing for 93 seats, including six new ones, according to local sources.

Preliminary results showed the PNC winning over 60 seats, or roughly two-thirds of the total.

This majority does not include independent candidates supported by the PNC as well as those from allied parties like the MNP and the MDA.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Preliminary work has been done on more than 20 agreements Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to sign during his visit to Iraq on Monday, said the Turkish foreign minister.

• A base where US forces are stationed in northeastern Syria came under attack late Sunday, according to local sources.

• International medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Sunday that its teams in the occupied West Bank are subjected to violence and restrictions on movement.

• At least 50 Palestinians were detained by Israeli army forces in military raids in the occupied West Bank, according to a local nongovernmental organization on Sunday.

• At least four Palestinians were injured in an attack carried out by illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said Sunday

• Kosovo Serbs boycotted extraordinary local elections on Sunday in Serb-majority municipalities to choose new mayors.

• Tens of thousands of Colombians took to the streets on Sunday to protest against President Gustavo Petro’s reform agenda.

• Thousands of people took to the streets in over 100 cities and towns across Spain over the weekend to demonstrate their support for Palestine amid Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza.

• Egypt and the United Nations reiterated the necessity of ending Israeli “violations” against civilians in Gaza, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

SPORTS

• Real Madrid secure hard-fought win against Barcelona

Real Madrid beat Barcelona 3-2 on Sunday in a hard-fought Spanish La Liga week 32 match.

Los Merengues came back twice to secure the vital "El Clasico" win.

Real Madrid top the standings with 81 points, while Barcelona follow them with 70 points.

• Manchester United reach FA Cup final after beating Coventry

Manchester United on Sunday reached the FA Cup final after beating Coventry on penalties.

The Red Devils won the shootout 4-2 after regular and extra times ended with a 3-3 draw at London’s Wembley Stadium.

Goals by Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire, and Bruno Fernandes, in the 23rd, 46th, and 58th minutes respectively, seemed to settle the victory for United until the 95th minute.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US, Yemen ink 5-year assistance agreement for economic development

The US signed on Sunday a five-year aid pact with Yemen's government to expedite economic development in a nation grappling with one of the most severe humanitarian crises worldwide.

The assistance agreement was signed by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Waed Abdullah Batheeb and Kimberlee Bell, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Country Director for Yemen.​​​​​​​