Morning Briefing: June 22, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here's a rundown of all the news you need to start Saturday, including the UN chief warning that the world "cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza", the latest Israeli attack killing 25 and injuring 50 in western Rafah, and an Israeli military analyst who said the army wants to leave Gaza but Netanyahu has "other ideas."

TOP STORIES

• World 'cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza,' UN chief warns

The UN chief expressed "profound" concern about growing tensions between Israel and the Lebanese group, Hezbollah, saying the world "cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza."

"I felt compelled today to voice my profound concerns about escalation between Israel and Hezbollah along the Blue Line," Antonio Guterres told reporters in New York, hinting at an "escalation in bellicose rhetoric from both sides as if an all-out war was imminent."

Warning against a wider regional conflict in the Middle East, Guterres said: "One rash move -- one miscalculation -- could trigger a catastrophe that goes far beyond the border, and frankly, beyond imagination."

• 25 killed, 50 injured in Israeli strike on displaced persons' tents in Rafah

At least 25 Palestinians were killed and 50 injured when Israeli forces shelled tents housing displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area in western Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

The Health Ministry in Gaza said the death toll rose to 25, with 50 others injured.

Earlier, medical sources told Anadolu that rescue teams recovered 18 bodies and provided treatment to 35 victims who were injured after Israeli tanks targeted the displaced persons' camp.

• Israeli army wants to leave Gaza, Netanyahu has ‘other ideas,’ says military analyst

Israeli military analyst Amos Harel said the army wants to withdraw from Gaza but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "has other ideas."

In an article in the Haaretz newspaper, Harel said Netanyahu “continues to declare that the all-out war against Hamas will continue for as long as it takes.”

“He's again scattering promises of total victory to his supporters,” he said. “In reality, what we have is a war that looks more eternal than a victory that's total.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Armenia announced on Friday that it has recognized the state of Palestine.
• Russia carried out 14 strikes targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and depots from June 15 - 21, according to the Defense Ministry.
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned "deepening military cooperation" between Russia and North Korea, said the State Department.
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the complex and chaotic situation in Gaza, describing it as "total lawlessness."
• The EU gave the final green light to start accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine.
• Japan has slapped new sanctions on Russia, including freezing the assets of dozens of financial institutions and individuals for being "directly" involved in or supporting Moscow's war against Kyiv.
• Israel has pushed the settlement with Palestine far back by its actions, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
• At the end of 2023, 68.3 million people were internally displaced by conflicts and violence worldwide, an increase of 49% from five years ago, UN expert Paula Gaviria Betancur told the UN Human Rights Council.
• The office of the International Committee of the Red Cross office in the Gaza Strip, which is surrounded by hundreds of displaced civilians, was damaged by nearby shelling, the group said Friday.

SPORTS

• Austria increase last 16 hopes at EURO 2024 after 3 - 1 win against Poland

Austria beat Poland 3 - 1 in a UEFA EURO 2024 Group D match to boost their last 16 hopes in the tournament.

Defender Gernot Trauner scored the opener for Austria before Poland equalized in the 30th minute at Berlin's Olympiastadion on a goal from Krzysztof Piatek.

Christoph Baumgartner was on the scoresheet to give a 2 - 1 lead to Austria in the second half. Inter Milan forward Marko Arnautovic scored from the penalty spot in the minute 78 to cement the Austrian victory.

• Netherlands vs. France showdown ends in goalless draw at EURO 2024

The Netherlands were denied a goal by a VAR (Video Assistant Referee) check and settled for a draw with France in a UEFA EURO 2024 Group D match Friday in Germany's Leipzig.

In the first half of the pulsating clash at Leipzig Stadium, France star Antoine Griezmann missed two chances in the penalty area.

The Netherlands scored in the second half but it was ruled out for an offside call.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Japan's consumer inflation rises to 3-month high in May

Japan’s overall annual consumer inflation rose to a three-month high of 2.8% in May due to rising electricity prices, according to data that was released.

Headline inflation was up from 2.5% in April, figures from the Internal Affairs Ministry showed.

The cost of electricity soared 14.7% year-on-year in May as the government phased out utility subsidies.

• Turkish telecommunications satellite to be launched in mid-July

Türkiye's latest indigenous telecommunications satellite will be launched into space next month after final tests at the SpaceX facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida, according to the Turkish transportation and infrastructure minister.

The Turksat 6A which was transported to the facility earlier this month, will be carried into orbit on a Falcon 9 rocket in mid-July, Abdulkadir Uraloglu said in a statement.

Uraloglu said once the space probe is in position, Türkiye's satellite operator, Turksat, will be able to provide coverage to a substantially wider area including India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.