Morning Briefing: February 9, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Friday with, including US warning about Israeli operation in Rafah, poll results in Pakistan yet to be announced, thousands of children rendered orphans or living with single parent in the Gaza war, and UN agency for Palestinian refugees to halt operations due to suspension of funds.

TOP STORIES

• US says Israeli operation in Rafah 'a disaster' for Palestinians

The US on Thursday warned that an Israeli military operation in Rafah "would be a disaster" for the more than 1 million displaced Palestinians sheltering there.

The White House and State Department warned of grave humanitarian consequences if an operation was to take place.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters: "Absent any full consideration of protecting civilians at that scale in Gaza, military operations right now would be a disaster for those people, and it's not something that we would support.”

• Head of Pakistan’s electoral body says poll results to be announced soon

Pakistan’s chief election commissioner said Thursday evening that the results of national and provincial elections were being compiled and will be announced “as soon as possible.”

His message came after political parties said the results were coming in “slow,” criticizing the delayed results after the country went to polls on Thursday to elect its new government.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, claimed that their backed candidates were leading in more than 150 seats.

• Thousands of children in Gaza living without one or both parents: Media office

About 17,000 children in the Gaza Strip are now living without one or both of their parents due to killing or arrests by Israeli forces since Oct. 7.

Director-General of Gaza Media Office Ismail al-Thawabteh said at a press conference at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, “around 17,000 Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip have been living without their parents since the genocide began, with some of them losing both parents due to martyrdom, arrest, or disappearance.”

The number of children killed since Oct. 7 has risen to 12,150.

• UN Palestinian refugee agency to halt operations in weeks amid funding cuts

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) warned Thursday that it will halt its operations within weeks if international funding remains suspended.

“Our operations are likely to come to an end in the next few weeks if funding remains suspended,” UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma told Al-Jazeera television.

Several countries suspended UNRWA funding after Israel alleged that some of the agency's employees were involved in the Hamas cross-border attack on Oct. 7.

“More food supplies are needed to avert famine in Gaza and these supplies are with UNRWA,” Touma said.

NEWS IN BRIEF.

• US President Joe Biden acknowledged the widespread humanitarian catastrophe caused by Israel's war on the besieged Gaza Strip in remarks Thursday, saying "it's gotta stop."

• Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in Moscow said that a change of president in the US will not change the attitude of their elites toward his country.

• Georgia's parliament on Thursday approved the country's new government under Irakli Kobakhidze, who was nominated prime minister by the ruling Georgian Dream party last week.

• Ukraine dismissed its Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi and replaced him with Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi, officials said.

• Saudi Arabia hosted a meeting of Arab foreign ministers Thursday to consult on developments in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the need of complete cease-fire.

• Over 40 Iranian-backed militants were killed in a series of airstrikes conducted by the US last week in retaliation for the killings of three American troops, the Pentagon said Thursday.

• The UN human rights chief said Thursday that the destruction of civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip by Israel is a violation of a Geneva Convention “and a war crime."

• A Palestinian journalist, Nafez Abdel Jawad, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, taking the tally to 124 since Oct. 7, according to the government media office.

• At least 12 people, including 10 security personnel, were killed on Thursday in “terrorist attacks” in southwestern and northwestern Pakistan on election day.

• Oxfam warned Thursday of an aggravating hunger crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, saying that after two years of conflict, erratic rainfall during the planting season is leading to the threat.

SPORTS

• Anadolu Efes beat Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv to clinch 11th EuroLeague victory

Anadolu Efes defeated Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 105-91 in a Round 26 game in Riga, Latvia on Thursday to secure their 11th EuroLeague win.

Shane Larkin led the Istanbul club to their second straight win with 22 points and six assists while his teammate Rodrigue Beaubois produced 20 points at Arena Riga.

• Derrick Kohn joins Galatasaray from Hannover 96

Derrick Kohn moved to Galatasaray from Hannover 96 on Thursday until the end of the 2025/2026 season.

"An agreement has been reached with professional football player Derrick Arthur Kohn and his club Hannover 96 GmbH & Co. KG regarding the transfer of the player…,” Galatasaray said in a statement.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US imposes sanctions on 4 entities for violations of Russia oil price cap

The US Treasury Department announced Thursday that it imposed sanctions on four entities for violating a price cap on Russian oil placed by a group of Western countries.

They include a Liberian-registered tanker that it says is controlled by Russia and three United Arab Emirates-based management firms associated with this and other tankers.

• Mexico keeps interest rate steady at 11.25%

Mexico's central bank announced Thursday it kept its key interest rate steady at the record high level of 11.25%.

The move came in line with market expectations.

The Banco de Mexico last made a hike in March 2023 that pushed the interest rate to a record high of 11.25%, which marked its 15th rate increase since mid-2021.