Morning Briefing: Nov. 22, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Wednesday, including a prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel, deadly airstrikes by Israel across Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to continue Gaza attacks after the end of a temporary cease-fire, and South Africa parliament voting to shut down Israeli Embassy.

TOP STORIES

• Israel, Hamas announce prisoner swap deal

The Israeli government and the Palestinian group Hamas have agreed to a prisoner exchange deal.

After six hours of debating, the deal was approved by the Israeli Cabinet under which 50 hostages consisting of children and women held by Hamas in Gaza will be released in exchange for a cease-fire lasting for four days, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported.

For the release of 50 Israeli prisoners from the Gaza Strip, around 150 Palestinian prisoners would be released from Israeli prisons, says Israeli Channel 12.

During the four-day pause in Gaza, some 300 trucks of humanitarian supplies, including fuel, would enter the enclave daily.

• Dozens killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza

Israel continued bombing across the Gaza Strip late Tuesday, according to Palestinian News Agency Wafa.

At least 15 people were killed and 25 others were wounded when Israeli occupation forces targeted a residential apartment in the southern city of Hamad.

In the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, medical sources told Wafa that five people were killed in an Israeli raid.

In Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, at least 24 people were killed and 20 others were wounded in Israeli airstrikes on two homes.

• Israel to continue attacks in Gaza after temporary cease-fire: Netanyahu

Israel will continue its attacks in the Gaza Strip after a proposed temporary cease-fire, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday.

“We are at war, and the war will continue until all our goals are achieved," Netanyahu said in a speech ahead of a Cabinet meeting to discuss a proposed hostage deal and four-day cease-fire with the Gaza-based Palestinian group Hamas.

Israel estimates that at least 239 Israelis are held by Hamas following a cross-border attack on Oct. 7.

• South African parliament passes motion to close Israeli Embassy

South African lawmakers voted in favor of a motion to close the Israeli Embassy in the capital Pretoria and suspend diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv.

The motion was introduced last week by the third-largest opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

"The Israeli Embassy should remain closed until they agree to a cease-fire," ANC chief whip in parliament Pemmy Majodina said on Tuesday.

South Africa recently withdrew all of its diplomats from Tel Aviv for consultation over Israel's ongoing assault in Gaza.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The US said that the Russian paramilitary group, Wagner, was preparing to provide air defense capability to the Lebanese group, Hezbollah, or Iran, White House's National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

• Türkiye cannot accept Israel's policy of depopulating the Gaza Strip, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the Algeria-Türkiye Business Forum on Tuesday, reiterating that Israel is a "terror state."

• The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group, said Tuesday that an elderly Israeli woman being held captive by the PIJ in the Gaza Strip has died.

• The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has soared to 14,128, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said.​​​​​ The victims include over 5,840 children and 3,920 women.

• Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called for the creation of a "special international inquiry" into Israel's use of banned weapons in Gaza, saying that Israel not only violates humanity, morality and law, but also tries to mislead world public opinion.

• Head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that one of its employees was killed in the Gaza Strip along with her family.

• Italy’s foreign minister on Tuesday defended its migration deal with Albania, saying it is not comparable with the UK's Rwanda plan, and a bill will be presented in parliament for setting up migrant centers in Albania.

• More than 10,000 civilians have been killed and 18,500 have been injured since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine in February 2022, a senior UN official said , citing figures from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

• North Korea announced late Tuesday that it successfully launched a surveillance satellite into orbit as South Korea's military detected the rocket launch carrying the satellite into space, Yonhap News Agency reported.

SPORTS

• Türkiye win EURO 2024 qualifiers group stage

Already-qualified Türkiye won the EURO 2024 qualifiers group stage by drawing 1-1 with Wales on Tuesday.

Neco Williams' accurate low shot in the seventh minute gave an early lead to hosts Wales at Cardiff City Stadium.

Yusuf Yazici's equalizer from a penalty kick in the 70th minute dashed Wales' qualifying dreams.

• All EURO 2024 finalists revealed

All the EURO 2024 finalists were revealed with the last group stage matches on Tuesday.

Spain, France, England, Türkiye, Albania, Belgium, Hungary, Denmark, Romania and Portugal won their respective groups to play in the finals.

Scotland, the Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, Czech Republic, Austria, Serbia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Slovakia gained their final tickets by finishing their respective groups in second spot.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Binance CEO to resign, plead guilty to US criminal charges

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao is set to plead guilty to criminal charges in the US and resign as part of a $4.3 billion settlement, according to court filings Tuesday.

The Justice Department charged Zhao with violating the Bank Secrecy Act and "willfully" violating US economic sanctions, and "failing to implement and maintain" an effective anti-money laundering program.

• US chipmaker Nvidia's revenue triples to record high in 3rd quarter

Nvidia's revenue tripled to a record high during the third quarter due to rising demand from companies for hardware that is essential for artificial intelligence (AI) tasks, according to its financial results statement released Tuesday.

The US-based chipmaking giant posted record revenue of $18.12 billion in the quarter ending Oct. 29.