Morning Briefing: February 7, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Wednesday, including Hamas's response to a Gaza framework deal, Saudi Arabia's refusing diplomatic ties with Israel without the creation of an independent Palestinian state, and Turkish President Erdogan vowing to fight terrorism after an attempted attack at Istanbul courthouse.

TOP STORIES

• Qatar says Hamas response to Gaza framework deal ‘positive’

Qatar’s prime minister welcomed as “positive” a response by Palestinian group Hamas to a framework deal for a possible new cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and hostage swap with Israel.

“We received Hamas’ response to the framework agreement,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani told a joint press conference in Doha with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“The Hamas response contains notes, but is generally positive,” he added. The Qatari premier cited progress in the negotiations, but declined to provide further details.

• No diplomatic ties with Israel without independent Palestinian state: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday told the US that Riyadh will not establish diplomatic ties with Israel without the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

"There will be no diplomatic relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is recognized on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and that the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip stops," the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also made clear that normalization was dependent on the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza.

• Turkish president vows to fight terrorism following attempted attack outside courthouse

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday reiterated the nation's unwavering commitment to combatting terrorism in the wake of an attempted terror attack in Istanbul.

“Türkiye will continue its decisive fight against all terrorist organizations and their supporters without making any distinction,” President Erdogan said at an event in Kahramanmaras, marking the first anniversary of the twin devastating earthquakes last February.

Two armed members of the terrorist group DHKP-C trying to attack a checkpoint outside a courthouse in Istanbul were killed on Tuesday, according to Turkish authorities. Six people were injured including three police officers.

"Four members of the public were wounded. Unfortunately, one of them passed away at the hospital," Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on Tuesday discussed a framework agreement for a Gaza cease-fire, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.
  
  
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel will continue its military operations in the Gaza Strip, until "total victory" is achieved.
  
  
• Chile's former President Sebastian Pinera died in a helicopter crash in the southern town of Lago Ranco on Tuesday, local news outlet La Tercera reported.
  
  
• Kazakhstan's parliament on Tuesday approved the nomination of Olzhas Bektenov, former head of the presidential administration, for the position of prime minister.
  
  
• Türkiye is set to soon reopen its consulate general in Benghazi, eastern Libya, the Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan said Tuesday, adding that “Türkiye does not want any renewed conflict in Libya.”
  
  
• "Everything possible" must be done to avoid intensified hostilities in the Rafah city in southern Gaza, which might lead to a "large scale" loss of civilian lives, the UN humanitarian office warned on Tuesday.
  
  
• The Israeli army on Tuesday destroyed two buildings of Al-Aqsa University, the oldest institution of higher learning in the Gaza Strip, according to witnesses.
  
  
• UN to hold an extraordinary session on Kosovo at Serbia's request in response to Kosovo's decision to adopt the euro for cash payment transactions, effectively eliminating the Serbian dinar.
  
  
• China raised the issues of restrictions on two-way investment and sanctions on its enterprises Tuesday on the second day of trade talks with the US in Beijing, state media reported.

SPORTS

• Jordan reaches maiden AFC Asian Cup final

Jordan reached their maiden AFC Asian Cup final by beating two-time winners South Korea 2-0 on Tuesday.

Al Ahli forward Yazan Al-Naimat gave Jordan a lead in the 53rd minute, while Montpellier winger Mousa Al-Taamari made it 2-0 in the 66th minute.

Jordan will face the winner of Wednesday's Iran-Qatar semifinal clash in the final on Saturday.

• Basketballer Ricky Rubio returns to Barcelona

Barcelona announced Tuesday that Spanish basketballer Ricky Rubio has returned to the team.

The 33-year-old guard will stay with Barca until the end of the season, according to a statement.

The agreement depends on the player's progress as he is in the final stages of his recovery, the statement added.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Türkiye's population hits 85.4M in 2023

Türkiye’s population grew by 92,824 from a year earlier to 85.37 million in 2023, according to official data.

The male population was 42.73 million or 50.1% of the total, while women made up 49.9% or 42.64 million last year, TurkStat data showed on Monday.

The annual population growth rate dropped to 1.1 per thousand in 2023, down from 7.1 per thousand in 2022.

• Ukraine nationalizes assets of Russian oligarch worth $13.2M

Ukraine on Tuesday said it nationalized assets belonging to a Russian oligarch worth $13.2 million.

The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said in a statement that all of Eduard Khudainatov's shares in the Alliance-Ukraine Oil Company LLC, which it said is estimated at almost 500 million Ukrainian hryvnias, was directed to Ukraine’s income.