Morning Briefing: May 1, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Wednesday with, including the UN chief’s warning against Israel’s military assault in Rafah, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rejecting provincial measures against Germany, and the arrest of pro-Palestinian protestors from Columbia University.

TOP STORIES

• UN chief warns against Israel's military operation in Rafah

In a strong warning against a military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Tuesday on "those with influence over Israel" to prevent further civilian casualties and displacement.

"A military assault on Rafah would be an unbearable escalation, killing thousands more civilians and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee," Guterres said at a news conference.

The UN chief stressed that a military assault would not only have a "devastating impact on Palestinians in Gaza" but also significant repercussions across the region.

• Top UN court rejects measures against Israel’s ally Germany

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has voiced concern over the “catastrophic living conditions in Gaza” but refrained from issuing emergency measures to stop Germany’s arms exports to Israel in a case filed by Nicaragua.

At a hearing in The Hague on Tuesday, ICJ President Nawaf Salam said Germany has been a party to major international arms control treaties and German authorities already declared that they have limited arms exports to Israel.

Salam, however, underlined that the UN’s top court remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

• Dozens of pro-Palestinian protestors arrested after police clear Columbia University

New York Police Department (NYPD) officers entered a Columbia University building held by pro-Palestinian protesters late Tuesday amid reports that dozens of people have been taken into custody.

At least one police bus filled with detained demonstrators was seen in video footage leaving Columbia's campus with police operations ongoing.

The building was cleared of demonstrators about two hours after the operation began, and over 100 people were taken into custody, according to multiple reports.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The White House said it continues to oppose an Israeli invasion of Rafah after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his forces will enter "with or without" a cease-fire deal with Hamas.

• UN relief chief Martin Griffiths warned against Israel's planned ground operation in Rafah, saying that increased aid deliveries to Gaza cannot be used as a pretext to launch or "justify a full-blown military assault" on the city.

• Excluding a US funding decision through next March, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) chief said Tuesday that all countries except the UK, Austria and Switzerland resumed funding to the agency.

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Tuesday to invade Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip despite reports of a possible cease-fire deal with Hamas.

• Another Palestinian journalist was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, taking the death toll to 142 since Oct. 7, 2023, according to his employer.

• The Palestinian Civil Defense service said Tuesday that more than 10,000 people are still missing under the rubble across the Gaza Strip since the start of the Israeli onslaught against Gaza on Oct. 7.

• The Biden administration is considering bringing some Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to the US as refugees, CBS News reported Tuesday.

• Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah warned Tuesday of severe consequences if Israel launches a ground offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

• The UK on Tuesday dispatched its first failed asylum seeker to Rwanda under a pioneering voluntary scheme, according to British media.

• The international food charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) resumed its operations in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday after seven of its aid workers were killed in an Israeli strike earlier this month.

SPORTS

• Vinicius Junior's double helps Real Madrid draw at Bayern Munich in Champions League semis

Real Madrid's Brazilian football star Vinicius Junior scored double as the Spanish powerhouse earned a 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League semifinal opener.

Real Madrid were unbeaten in their last eight Champions League matches against Bayern Munich, with six wins and two draws.

• Chelsea defender Thiago Silva to leave club at end of season

Chelsea's Brazilian defender Thiago Silva announced on Monday that he would be leaving the English Premier League side at the end of the season.

In a video published on the London club's Instagram account, a teary-eyed Silva said he intended to return to the Blues "one day.”

Silva, who joined Chelsea from French Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain in August 2020, won seven league titles with his former club.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Canada's economy expands 0.2% in February, lower than 0.3% expectation

Canada's real gross domestic product (GDP) grew 0.2% in February, lower than market estimates, the country's statistical body said Tuesday.

The market expectation for GDP was to show an increase of 0.3% on a monthly basis.

The figure for January was also revised downward to a gain of 0.5% from an increase of 0.6%.

• IMF, Mali agree on $120M emergency financing

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced Tuesday that it has reached a staff-level agreement with Mali for about $120 million in emergency financing amid rising food insecurity in the West African country.

Once approved by the IMF’s Management and Executive Board, the funding would support the provision of food and targeted cash transfers to people facing acute food insecurity in central and northern regions of Mali, a statement said.​​​​​​​