Morning Briefing: Dec. 1, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Friday with, including the resumption of fighting in Gaza Strip, the release of seventh batch of Israeli hostages by Hamas, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s remarks asking Israeli army to protect civilians during war, and an extension of deployment of Turkish troops in Libya.

TOP STORIES

• Humanitarian pause officially over as fighting resumes in Gaza

The humanitarian pause between Hamas and Israel in Gaza Strip came to an end on Friday morning after fighting resumed.

According to an Anadolu correspondent, clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian factions were underway in northern and central parts of the Gaza Strip.

Heavy gunfire and artillery shelling by Israeli forces resumed in eastern Gaza Strip, according to Anadolu.

Israeli planes flew over Gaza Strip as tanks and naval boats fired missiles towards northern Gaza.

Israeli army also announced resumption of firing against Hamas in Gaza.

• 6 Israeli hostages handed over to Red Cross: Israeli army

Six Israeli hostages were released by Hamas and handed over to the Red Cross, the Israeli army said late Thursday.

Earlier, Hamas released two hostages to the Red Cross.

Around 30 Palestinians, including 23 minors and 7 women, will be released in exchange for the release of 10 hostages in Gaza, the two Russian citizens released yesterday counted on the list, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majed al-Ansari said on X.

• ‘Massive loss’ of civilian lives in northern Gaza must not be repeated in south: Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the Israeli army Thursday that the “massive loss of civilian lives and displacement” in northern Gaza must not be repeated in the south.

During a press briefing after he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken said that Israel had agreed to a US request on a strategy that “puts a premium on protecting civilians.”

He added that the Israeli army should steer clear of targeting vital infrastructure such as hospitals, power stations and water facilities.

• Turkish parliament approves motion to extend mandate of troops in Libya

A Turkish presidential motion to extend the authorization for the deployment of Turkish troops to Libya for another 24 months was approved Thursday by parliament.

The motion, which was submitted to parliament last Friday, extends the mandate of Turkish troops beginning Jan. 2.

"The continuation of the ceasefire and the political dialogue process in Libya, and the establishment of peace and stability as a result of this process, are of great importance for Türkiye," according to the motion signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The death toll from a shooting attack in West Jerusalem carried out by two members of the Palestinian group Hamas has risen to four, with 12 others wounded, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation said Thursday.

• The 2023 edition of the UN climate summit, commonly known as COP28, opened on Thursday in Dubai, as the United Arab Emirates officially assumed the presidency from Egypt.

• The US continued Thursday to voice opposition to a permanent cease-fire that would end hostilities in the besieged Gaza Strip, but said it would continue to support the extension of humanitarian pauses, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed on Thursday efforts to expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.

• The Palestine Red Crescent Society said Thursday that a total of 65 aid trucks entered Gaza City and North Gaza governorate, bringing the total number of trucks sent to 310 since the beginning of the humanitarian pause on Nov. 24.

• The Netherlands urged Israel on Thursday to exercise restraint in its military deployment to Gaza, as Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on X that he spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the latest state of affairs regarding the agreement for a humanitarian pause.

• The Israeli army has destroyed more than 60% of the homes and residential units in the Gaza Strip, the government media office in Gaza said Thursday.

• More than 1,300 artists and performers, including Academy Award winning British actress Olivia Colman, signed a letter to the arts and culture sector, accusing cultural institutions in the West of “repressing, silencing and stigmatizing Palestinian voices and perspective."

• The Israeli army prevented a fuel truck from reaching northern Gaza, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said on Tuesday. Earlier, the society said that it was bringing a fuel truck to Gaza Strip.

SPORTS

• Fenerbahce waste chance to pass Conference League group stage

Fenerbahce wasted the chance to pass the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage by losing to Nordsjaelland 6-1 in Group H on Thursday.

Nordsjaelland lead Group H with 10 points and Fenerbahce are just behind with 9 points.

The Yellow Canaries' fate will be decided with a last group stage match against Spartak Trnava on Dec. 14.

• 400,000 new tickets on sale for Paris 2024 Olympics

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games put 400,000 new tickets up for sale on Thursday.

Paris City Hall said on X that 400,000 new tickets for next summer's Olympics would start to be sold, with the lowest ticket price to be €24, or $26.

Nearly 10 million tickets would be on sale for the 2024 Games.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Turkish Central Bank reserves rise to all-time high of $136.5B

Türkiye's Central Bank on Thursday announced record-high gross reserves of $136.49 billion as of the end of last week.

According to the bank's weekly figures, gross reserves surged $2.02 billion on a weekly basis as of Nov. 24.

Foreign currency reserves totaled $90.99 billion after an increase of $1.77 billion over the same period, while gold reserves amounted to $45.24 billion, up $225 million.

• Euro area annual inflation eases further in November

Consumer prices grew 2.4% year-on-year in November, the slowest pace since July 2021, the Eurostat data showed.

Headline inflation eased from 2.9% in October, and below market forecasts of 2.7%.

This was largely due to falling energy prices, which saw an 11.5% annualized decline in November.​​​​​​​