Morning Briefing: January 11, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Thursday, including the start of South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, the bombing of an ambulance in Gaza by Israeli forces, a meeting between the Palestinian president and the US secretary of state, and the UN Security Council passing a resolution against Houthis’ attacks.

TOP STORIES

• ICJ starting hearing on South Africa’s Gaza genocide case against Israel today

All eyes are set on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as a case filed by South Africa against the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza against Israel will begin today in The Hague.

Several countries, including Türkiye, Bolivia, and Malaysia, and groups such as the Organization for Islamic Cooperation are backing South Africa in the case filed on Dec. 29, accusing Israel of committing genocide in the besieged enclave.

More than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed in relentless bombing and airstrikes by Israeli forces since the Oct. 7 start of the conflict, displacing 85% of the population.

• 6 killed as Israel targets ambulance in central Gaza

At least six people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on an ambulance in the central Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said.

Four Red Crescent members were among the victims in the attack, which targeted an ambulance in the city of Deir al-Balah, the aid group said in a statement.

Several ambulances and health care facilities were repeatedly targeted by Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

• Abbas meets US’ Blinken, rejects displacement of Palestinians

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected any attempts to displace Palestinians during his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the West Bank on Wednesday.

Blinken arrived in Ramallah on Wednesday as part of a regional tour that started last week in Türkiye for talks on the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

“We will not allow the displacement of any Palestinian, whether in the Gaza Strip or the West Bank,” Abbas said during the meeting, as quoted by the state news agency Wafa.

• UN Security Council passes resolution condemning Houthi’s Red Sea attacks

The UN Security Council on Wednesday passed a resolution condemning and demanding an immediate halt to attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebel group on ships in the Red Sea.

The resolution submitted by the US and Japan was approved with a vote of 11-0 with four abstentions, including Russia.

Before the vote, Russia proposed amendments to the resolution, but they were rejected.

The Houthis have targeted vessels in the southern Red Sea and warned they will attack all Israeli-bound ships.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• A man who was wounded in an attack by the Israeli army two days ago succumbed to his injuries, bringing the number of Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank since Oct. 7 to 342.
  
  
• Al-Shabaab terrorists on Wednesday captured a UN helicopter in central Somalia and several passengers after it accidentally landed in an area controlled by the terror group, an official said.
  
  
• Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa declared a state of war against drug cartels Wednesday following three days of violence during which gangs clashed with the country's armed forces.
  
  
• A hotel where Anadolu reporters covering the war in Ukraine were staying was targeted by missiles late Wednesday. The journalists escaped unharmed, while nearby vehicles were damaged.
  
  
• The US said Wednesday it "does not seek conflict" after Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed an overnight attack on an American warship in the Red Sea.
  
  
• A three-day Arab summit in Jordan’s port city of Aqaba warned against Israel’s reoccupation of parts of the Gaza Strip. The summit brought together Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
  
  
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will not end the ongoing war between their countries until “we end him.”
  
  
• Turkish intelligence clearly responded to those threatening Türkiye, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday, adding that the Turkish intelligence agency, which exposed Israel's espionage network, gave a very clear response to those threatening Türkiye.
  
  
• The latest batch of court documents related to accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein has been released, including high-profile names such as former US presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump and former Vice President Al Gore.
  
  
  SPORTS
  
  
• Liverpool beat Fulham 2-1 in 1st leg of English League Cup semifinals

Liverpool staged a second-half comeback to beat Fulham 2-1 on Wednesday in the first leg of the English League Cup semifinals.

Willian Borges' goal in the 19th minute brought the lead to Fulham at Anfield.

The hosts came back from the dead in the second half as Curtis Jones leveled the score in the 66th minute. Three minutes later, Cody Gakpo brought the lead to the Reds.

• Real Madrid reach Spanish Super Cup final by beating Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid reached the Spanish Super Cup final by beating Atletico Madrid 5-3 on Wednesday.

Spanish defender Mario Hermoso brought the lead to Atletico. Real Madrid's German defender Antonio Rudiger leveled the score, and then his French teammate Ferland Mendy made it 2-1 for Real.

Antoine Griezmann equalized the score in the 37th minute. Rudiger put the ball into his own net, and then Real Madrid's Spanish fullback Dani Carvajal leveled the score in the 85th minute.

Stefan Savic scored in the 116th minute and Brahim Diaz in the 122nd minute.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US regulator approves spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday approved spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, also known as ETFs.

The much-awaited decision will allow investors to trade Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, which is a highly volatile market.

The price of Bitcoin, the world's biggest cryptocurrency, has been fluctuating wildly in recent days due to fake posts from a compromised SEC social media account.

• China, Maldives upgrade ties, sign 20 pacts

China and Maldives Wednesday upgraded bilateral ties to comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership as the two sides signed at least 20 “key agreements.”

The news came after China’s President Xi Jinping welcomed his Maldivian counterpart Mohamed Muizzu for bilateral talks in Beijing.

The agreements aim to improve trade and professional and socioeconomic development in the Maldives.