Morning Briefing: April 28, 2024

By Gozde Bayar

Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Sunday, including the killing of 32 more Palestinians in Gaza, Israeli foreign minister's remarks on a planned military operation in Rafah, Israeli protestors in Tel Aviv demanding release of Gaza hostages, early elections, and police raid at Northwestern University in the US.

TOP STORIES

• 32 more Palestinians killed in Gaza as Israeli onslaught continues: Health Ministry

At least 32 more Palestinians were killed and 69 injured in the last 24 hours as Israel continues its onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip, according to the territory's Health Ministry.

"The Israeli occupation (forces) committed four massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, leaving 32 martyrs and 69 injured during the past 24 hours," it said in a statement.

Flouting a provisional ruling by the International Court of Justice, Israel continues its onslaught on the Gaza Strip, where at least 34,388 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and 77,437 injured since Oct. 7, according to Palestinian health authorities.

• Hostage deal would defer planned Rafah operation, says Israeli foreign minister

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Saturday said that if a hostage deal is reached with Hamas, Tel Aviv will suspend a planned military operation in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.

“If we reach a hostage swap deal (with Hamas), we will suspend operations in Rafah,” Katz told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.

Earlier, the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, released a video in which two hostages held in Gaza could be seen demanding the Israeli government to make a deal to secure their release.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, discussed efforts Saturday to stop the Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip and the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Tel Aviv.

It came during a meeting between the head of Hamas’ Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh, Deputy Secretary-General of the Popular Front, Jameel Mizher and Deputy Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement, Mohammed al-Hindi, according to a statement by Hamas on Telegram.

• Tens of thousands of Israeli protesters demand release of Gaza hostages, early elections

Tens of thousands held protests across Israel, demanding the release of hostages held in Gaza and calling for early elections.

The Israeli broadcasting authority reported that protesters gathered at Kaplan Square, calling for a hostage swap deal with Palestinian factions in Gaza and early elections.

Meanwhile, thousands have also taken to the streets in European cities in solidarity with Palestine amid pro-Palestinian encampments at college campuses in the US because of an Israeli onslaught in the Gaza Strip.

Rallies across Berlin, London, Geneva, Vienna and Paris underscored widespread support for Palestine across Europe.

Demonstrators from diverse backgrounds came together to condemn the ongoing violence and advocate for justice and peace in the region.

• Police raid at Northwestern University in US amid pro-Palestine rally

A police raid was conducted Saturday on a demonstration supporting Palestine by students and professors at Northwestern University’s campus in the US city of Boston.

A university statement indicated that the raid occurred in the early hours.

It emphasized that professional provocateurs were among students and also noted that slogans like "Death to Jews" were heard.

It said hate crimes have no place on campus.

More than 100 individuals were detained during the raid, those with university identification were released and disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against those individuals, it added.

The statement also conveyed that individuals who did not show identification were arrested.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas armed wing, released a video Saturday that features two hostages held since Oct. 7, who demanded that the Netanyahu government find a way for their release.
• At least 11 people, including two Syrian refugees, were injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting a house in southern Lebanon on Saturday evening.
• Scores of residents from the town of Shebaa in the Nabatieh Governorate in southern Lebanon fled Saturday toward safe areas following intensified border fighting between Hezbollah and the Israeli army.
  
• Pro-Palestine demonstrators protested the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday, denouncing the Biden administration's handling of the war in Gaza and media coverage of the conflict that has killed tens of thousands.
  
• Hundreds of students gathered at the University of Tehran to express support for students in the US protesting the Israeli war on Gaza.
• Illegal Israeli settlers launched attacks targeting Palestinian farmers and residential areas in the West Bank.
• Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who died in prison in February, was not ordered to be killed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Wall Street Journal reported.
• Italy summoned the Russian envoy after Moscow announced it was temporarily transferring a subsidiary of Italian heating firm, Ariston Thermo Group, to the state energy company, Gazprom.
• The Israeli army said it intercepted a “suspicious aerial” object in the Manara area in northern Israel, near the border with southern Lebanon.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake jolted Indonesia, according to the US Geological Survey.
• The death toll in Kenya from floods caused by heavy rains has risen to 76, said a government spokesperson.
  
• X suspended the account of Nelson Mandela's grandson on Saturday after he made statements to Anadolu in support of the International Freedom Flotilla.

SPORTS

• Turkish boxer Cakiroglu becomes European champion for 3rd straight time

Turkish boxer Buse Naz Cakiroglu became the European champion for the 3rd time in a row.

Cakiroglu defeated Anastasia Kool from Russia to win the gold medal in the Women’s Boxing Championships’ 52 kg final in Serbia's capital of Belgrade.

• Fenerbahce beat Besiktas 2-1 in Istanbul derby

Fenerbahce defeated Besiktas 2-1 in the Istanbul derby of the Turkish Super Lig.

Besiktas were down to 10 men after Mohamed Al Musrati received a straight red card in the 25th minute.​​​​​​​

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Iran 'immune to sanctions' as trade expo kicks off: President Raisi

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said his country is “immune to sanctions,” as the sixth edition of the Export Potential Exhibition of Iran kicked off in Tehran with more than 2,000 entrepreneurs from 85 countries in attendance.

Also known as Iran Expo, the international exhibition will run until Wednesday, Iran's state-run news agency IRNA reported.

• Global infrastructure financing gap to be around $15 trillion by 2040: Head of Islamic bank

The world needs long-term solutions and sustainable infrastructure projects as the global infrastructure financing gap is estimated to be around $15 trillion by 2040, said the head of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group.

Financing sustainable infrastructure projects requires a paradigm shift, Muhammad Al Jasser said at the bank's annual meeting and golden jubilee event in Saudi Arabia’s capital of Riyadh.