Morning Briefing: May 25, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start Saturday, including the International Court of Justice ordering Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah, South Africa demanding the UN Security Council to determine measures to protect Palestinians, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his US counterpart Joe Biden's phone conversation on delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza via Israel's Kerem Shalom.

TOP STORIES

• ICJ orders Israel to 'immediately' halt its Rafah offensive

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza Strip where it sent forces in early May.

The order, adopted by the panel of 15 judges in a 13-2 vote, came a week after it was requested by South Africa as part of its case accusing Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention.

"Israel must immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part," said ICJ President Nawaf Salam, reading out the ruling.

The ICJ said modification in its March 28 order, which ordered "unhindered provision" of aid to Gaza, was in view of change in circumstances due to the offensive on Rafah, where displaced Palestinians had taken refuge from the war that started in October. According to UN agencies, more than 800,000 have since fled the city due to the ground invasion

• South Africa wants UN Security Council to determine measures to protect Palestinians

South Africa said it is looking at how the UN Security Council will respond to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling ordering Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip where it sent forces on May 6.

“We are pleased that the court has given very serious consideration to the matters that we put before it and has affirmed that an urgent decision is needed from the court to pause this onslaught against innocent Palestinians,” Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor told State Broadcaster SABC.

Pandor said Israel has had “impunity for so long” that they do not care what the global community says.

• Sisi, Biden agree to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza via Kerem Shalom crossing

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his American counterpart, Joe Biden, agreed on Friday to temporarily deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza via Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing.

In a phone call, the two presidents addressed the severe humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave, including the lack of essential supplies and fuel shortages affecting hospitals and bakeries, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement.

The leaders also agreed to temporarily deliver humanitarian aid and fuel to the UN via the Kerem Shalom crossing until a legal mechanism is established to reopen the Palestinian side of Rafah crossing, the statement added.

• Russia accuses Ukraine's military intelligence of involvement in April 22 terror attack on Crocus City concert hall

The head of the Russian Federal Security Service, Aleksandr Bortnikov, accused Ukraine of direct involvement in the April 22 terror attack on the Crocus City concert hall in the Moscow region.

"The investigation is underway, but it is already safe to say that the military intelligence of Ukraine is directly involved in this attack," Bortnikov said at a meeting of the heads of the Commonwealth of Independent States security agencies and special services.

Bortnikov stressed that all circumstances of the crime will be established and all guilty parties -- punished.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• China reiterated its threat to punish those seeking independence in Taiwan as it moves to close its two-day large-scale military exercises around the island nation.
• Japan said it will sanction nine Russian entities and one individual for alleged arms procurement from North Korea.
• CIA Director William Burns will travel to Europe in the coming days to revive stalled talks for a Gaza cease-fire and hostage-prisoner swap deal.
• The US announced $275 million in new military assistance for Ukraine amid its intense battle with Russian forces in the Kharkiv region.
• Amnesty International said Israel “must comply” with an International Court of Justice’s order demanding it immediately halt military operations in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.
• Türkiye expects the implementation of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) order for Israel to halt its attacks in Rafah.
• The EU slammed Russia's removal of buoys placed by Estonia on the Narva River to demarcate the border with Russia, demanding an explanation from Moscow.
• Azerbaijan has taken control of the territory of four villages in the Gazakh district on the border with Armenia.
• The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that it carried out 49 group strikes on Ukraine in the past week.
• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his country is currently not planning to recognize Palestine as a state.
• Myanmar junta airstrikes killed more than 359 civilians, including 61 children, and injured 756 others in the first four months of 2024.
• The World Health Organization warned that Sudan's health system is collapsing with only 20% - 30% of facilities functioning at "minimal levels."
• Singapore Airlines confirmed that 46 passengers and two crew members are hospitalized and receiving medical treatment in Bangkok following a severe turbulence incident.
• Chinese military will “push up countermeasures, until the complete reunification of the country is realized,” said the Defense Ministry.
• A massive landslide struck a remote village in Papua New Guinea, with more than 100 victims feared dead.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Palestinian Authority at high risk of fiscal collapse: World Bank

The Palestinian Authority is at risk of financial collapse, according to the World Bank.

"Revenue streams have largely dried up due to the drastic reduction in clearance revenue transfers payable to the Palestinian Authority and a massive drop in economic activity," it said in a statement.

"The rapidly widening gap between the amount of revenues coming in, and the amount needed to finance essential public expenditure, is driving a fiscal crisis," it added.

• IEA chief expects negotiations at COP29 to focus more on clean energy finance for developing countries

Climate negotiations at the United Nations’ summit this year in Baku are broadly expected to focus on how finance will be provided for the clean energy transition in emerging and developing countries, according to Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Birol spoke exclusively to Anadolu after he was honored with the First Class Order of Zayed II, the United Arab Emirates’ highest civil decoration, by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The honor was conferred on Birol and the IEA in recognition of their contributions to key outcomes of the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai last year.

SPORTS

• Panathinaikos to face Real Madrid in EuroLeague final

Greek team Panathinaikos will face Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague final.

The Greek side eliminated Turkish club Fenerbahce Beko 73 - 57 while Los Merengues beat another Greek team, Olympiacos, 87 - 76 in Friday's Final Four matches.

French center Mathias Lessort led Panathinakios with 17 points and 10 rebounds at Uber Arena.

• Formula 1 fever to hit Monaco this weekend

Monaco is set to host round eight of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship on Sunday.

The 78-lap race will occur at Monte Carlo's 3.337-kilometer (2.07-mile) Circuit de Monaco (Monte Carlo's street circuit), near the city-state's port.

After a qualifying phase on Saturday, round eight in Monaco will start at 1300 GMT on Sunday.