Morning Briefing: December 7, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here’s a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Thursday, including the catastrophic conditions in Gaza hospitals, the invoking of Article 99 by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and Türkiye’s stern warning to Israel.

TOP STORIES

• Patients bleeding to death in Gaza’s Al-Ahli Hospital, warns Health Ministry

The capacity of Al-Ahli Hospital in northern Gaza City has exceeded its capacity due to the large number of injured people transferred to the facility, a Health Ministry spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday, appealing for international support and protection against Israel's intensified bombardment.

The patients are bleeding to death, Dr. Ashraf al-Qudra said on X.

Meanwhile, a total of 800,000 Palestinians in the northern part of the Gaza Strip are currently without health coverage, the ministry said.

• UN chief Antonio Guterres invokes Article 99 of UN Charter over Gaza war

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter for the first time since he took the post in 2017.

In a letter, he warned the Security Council that the war in the Gaza Strip "may aggravate existing threats to international peace and security."

"More than eight weeks of hostilities in Gaza and Israel have created appalling human suffering, physical destruction and collective trauma across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory."

• Türkiye warns Israel of ‘heavy price’ for alleged plot to assassinate Hamas members abroad

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Tel Aviv of a “heavy price” amid reports of Israeli plot to assassinate Hamas members living outside Palestine.

“If they dare take such a step against Türkiye and Turkish people, they will be doomed to a pay a price which they cannot recover from,” Erdogan told journalists Tuesday when asked about a Wall Street Journal article which claimed Israel plans to kill Hamas members living outside Palestine.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• UK Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick on Wednesday stepped down, saying he "cannot continue in his position when he has disagreements with the direction of the government’s policy on immigration."

• Israel will push Lebanese group Hezbollah beyond the Litani River in southern Lebanon, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed on Wednesday, adding this could be achieved through international political arrangements or through military action.

• The US has supplied Israel with over 10,000 tons of military equipment since the start of the Gaza war on Oct. 7, the Israeli Defense Ministry said Wednesday, as the 200th cargo plane carrying military equipment for the army arrived in Israel.

• A German Foreign Ministry spokesman on Wednesday said EU member states will discuss possible sanctions on radical Israeli settlers, saying that they welcome a similar move by the US.

• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed support Wednesday for a letter sent by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to the UN Security Council to sound the alarm over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

• In a Foreign Ministry statement, Türkiye on Wednesday condemned Israel’s illegal settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories, calling it “completely unacceptable.”

• The Democratic-controlled Senate failed to advance US President Joe Biden's over $105 billion spending package Wednesday, which largely consists of additional military aid for Ukraine and Israel.

• The US Congress should take steps on selling F-16s and upgrade kits simultaneously with Türkiye, so all sides can take the remaining steps needed at the same time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday on Sweden's NATO accession bid.

• The Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, welcomed 68 new members from various parties on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in the political landscape.

• The Knesset (Israeli parliament) passed the government’s 2023 amended wartime budget in its first reading on Wednesday,

SPORTS

• Manchester United beat Chelsea, Aston Villa shock Man City in Premier League

Manchester United beat Chelsea 2-1 in an English Premier League week 15 match on Wednesday.

Manchester United are sixth with 27 points while Chelsea are in the number 10 spot with 19 points.

Meanwhile, reigning champions Manchester City were shocked by Aston Villa 1-0.

Leon Bailey's goal in the 74th minute brought a surprising victory to the hosts.

• Virtus Bologna defeat Barcelona 80-75 in EuroLeague

Italian side Virtus Segafredo Bologna defeated Spanish club Barcelona 80-75 in a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Round 12 game on Wednesday.

Danish guard Iffe Lundberg led his team to victory with 21 points at Virtus Segafredo Arena.

Spanish center Willy Hernangomez dropped 15 points for Barca.

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BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Bank of Canada keeps interest rates unchanged

The Bank of Canada on Wednesday kept interest rates unchanged, and said it continues its policy of quantitative tightening.

The target for the overnight rate was maintained at 5%, with the bank rate at 5.25% and the deposit rate at 5%.

"The global economy continues to slow and inflation has eased further," the central bank said in a statement.

• IATA expects record-high airline revenues of $964B in 2024

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Wednesday projected that the airline industry will generate record-high revenues of $964 billion in 2024, a rise of 7.4% year-on-year.

The industry's net profits are expected to be $25.7 billion in 2024, up from $23.3 billion in 2023.

Air passenger traffic is projected to hit a historic high of 4.7 billion people next year, exceeding the pre-virus level of 4.5 billion.​​​​​​​