Morning Briefing: March 1, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Friday, including the killing of dozens of Palestinians by Israel awaiting aid, countries condemning ‘flour massacre’ in Gaza, Colombia suspending arms trading with Israel, and US senators voting against a resolution blocking F-16 jets sale to Türkiye.

TOP STORIES

• Death toll of Palestinians killed by Israeli army awaiting aid surges to 112

The death toll of Palestinians killed by the Israeli army while waiting for humanitarian aid early on Thursday rose to 112 and is likely to climb further, the enclave's Health Ministry told Anadolu.

Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said many of the injured were in critical condition as they were shot in the upper body.

Also speaking to Anadolu, head of the Gaza-based Government Media Office Ismail Thawabteh called the deadly incident "the flour massacre."

"The martyrs of the flour massacre died as a result of being directly shot by the Israeli bullets," Thawabteh said.

• Countries condemn Israeli killing of Palestinians awaiting aid in Gaza

Several countries, including Türkiye condemned the Israeli attack on Palestinians awaiting humanitarian aid in Gaza City, leaving over 100 killed and more than 700 others injured.

Israel's targeting of civilians awaiting humanitarian aid in Gaza shows that it intends to "destroy the entire Palestinian population," the Türkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Jordan and Egypt strongly condemned the incident. Portugal 'said it was deeply shocked.’

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on the different Palestinian factions to reunite for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

• Colombia suspends all arms purchases from Israel

Colombia will suspend "all arms purchases from Israel," the country's President Gustavo Petro announced on Thursday.

"The world must block Netanyahu. Colombia suspends all purchases of weapons from Israel," Petro said on X.

The decision came after Israeli forces shelled a crowd of Palestinians awaiting humanitarian aid south of Gaza City.

"More than 100 Palestinians who were begging for food, were murdered by Netanyahu. This is called genocide and reminds us of the Holocaust even if the world powers do not like to recognize it," Petro said.

• US Senate votes against resolution on blocking sale of F-16 jets to Türkiye

US senators voted Thursday against a resolution introduced by Republican Senator Rand Paul which sought to block the sale of F-16 fighter jets and other defense equipment to Türkiye.

The resolution was defeated by 79 senators, while 13 were in favor.

On Jan. 26, the US State Department approved the $23 billion sale of F-16 aircraft and modernization kits to Türkiye after Ankara greenlighted Sweden’s NATO membership.

Türkiye in October 2021 requested from the US 40 new F-16 Block 70 aircraft as well as 79 modernization kits to upgrade its remaining F-16s to Block 70 level.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The White House urged an investigation Thursday into the deadly attack by Israel on malnourished Palestinians waiting for a humanitarian aid delivery in the Gaza Strip.
  
  
• The UN chief on Thursday condemned Israeli forces who opened fire on Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid south of Gaza City, killing more than 100 victims and injuring 700 others.
  
  
• Hamas accused Israel on Thursday of spreading "deception and false information" about an attack by Israeli forces on Palestinians in northern Gaza who were waiting for the arrival of humanitarian aid.
  
  
• European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Thursday that he is “horrified” by the news of an Israeli attack on a crowd waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza.
  
  
• The White House said Thursday that Israeli forces opening fire on Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid south of Gaza City is a "serious incident.”
  
  
• Egyptian and Emirati planes airdropped humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip, according to Egypt’s military on Thursday.
  
  
• Chad’s opposition leader Yaya Dillo was killed in clashes with security forces in the capital N'Djamena, a public prosecutor said on Thursday.
  
  
• Russian President Vladimir Putin in his annual State of the Nation address on Thursday accused the West of dragging his country into an arms race.
  
  
• Spain's envoy to the UN in Geneva on Thursday urged the convening of an international peace conference on the Israel-Palestine conflict "as soon as possible."
  
  
• A devastating fire at a six-story shopping mall in Bangladesh's capital late Thursday has killed at least 44 people, according to officials.
  
  
• Algeria on Thursday called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council on recent developments in the Gaza Strip

SPORTS

• Paul Pogba gets 4-year doping ban

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba was handed a four-year ban by Italy's anti-doping court on Thursday for failing a drug test, state news agency ANSA reported.

The former Manchester United player, 30, had tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone after the Udinese-Juventus match on Aug. 20, 2023.

Since then, he was provisionally suspended, and now the anti-doping tribunal has imposed a ban on him.

• Cristiano Ronaldo suspended for one match over obscene gesture in Saudi League match

Cristiano Ronaldo was suspended for one match for appearing to make an obscene gesture after Al Nassr's 3-2 win over Al Shabab, the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Federation (SAFF) said on Wednesday.

Footage shows the Portuguese star on Sunday cupping his ear and repeatedly thrusting his hand forward near his pelvis, in a gesture that seemed to be aimed at the opponents' fans.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Russia bans gasoline export for 6 months starting Friday

Russia on Thursday announced a six-month ban on gasoline exports, effective March 1.

In a statement, the country's government said measures were taken to maintain stability in the country's fuel market.

The decision does not include shipments made through intergovernmental agreements, including to member states of the Eurasian Economic Union.

• Turkish economy grows 4.5% in 2023

The Turkish economy grew by 4.5% in 2023, the Turkish Statistical Institute announced on Thursday.

The official data showed that the country's GDP growth rate was also at 4% in the last quarter of the year.

The GDP with current prices reached $1.12 trillion in 2023, while the GDP per capita was $13,110.​​​​​​​