Morning Briefing: Nov. 26, 2023

By Anadolu Staff

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Sunday, including 39 Palestinians released from Israeli jails in a second batch of a prisoner swap, the Israeli army kills 5 Palestinians in West Bank and thousands of Israeli protesters demand the release of all hostages in Gaza.

TOP STORIES

• 39 Palestinians released from Israeli jails in second batch of prisoner swap

Israeli authorities released 39 Palestinians, including six females and 33 minors, from Israeli jails as part of a second batch of a prisoner swap deal between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.

Earlier Saturday, 13 Israelis and four foreigners were released from Gaza in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

According to the official Palestinian news agency, WAFA, a ICRC bus took 34 Palestinian detainees from the Israeli Ofer prison to Al-Bireh in the central West Bank.

WAFA said hundreds of Palestinians gathered in the Al-Bireh municipality square to celebrate the release of the detainees.

• Israeli army kills 5 Palestinians in West Bank

Five Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in areas across the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said four were killed and four injured by the Israeli army which raided the Jenin refugee camp.

Palestine TV reported that the Israeli army raided Jenin from several directions and cordoned off the refugee camp and the government hospital amid heavy gunfire.

The Islamic Jihad group's armed wing said its fighters confronted the Israeli army near the refugee camp.

• Thousands of Israeli protesters demand release of all hostages in Gaza

Thousands of Israelis demonstrated in downtown Tel Aviv, demanding the government work to release all hostages in the Gaza Strip.

The demonstrators raised a banner that read: “50 days of hell. We will not stop demonstrating until everyone returns,” the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported.

Israelis have demonstrate almost daily to demand the government work to release prisoners.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Palestinian detainee Israa Jaabis arrived home in occupied East Jerusalem after her release from Israeli jail, according to the Jerusalem-based Wadi Hilweh Information Center.

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin confirmed the release of 13 Israeli hostages in a second batch of a prisoner swap deal with the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.

• Victims of the Holodomor famine were commemorated with events that saw the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

• Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Europe to demand a permanent cease-fire in Gaza amid a temporary humanitarian pause in the fighting.

• Greece emphasized the benefits of better relations with Türkiye without ignoring fundamental differences between the two countries.

• The temporary humanitarian pause in Gaza has brought to light that the Israeli army had destroyed the "Rashad Al-Shawwa" Cultural Center in the Al-Rimal neighborhood of the Gaza City in the northern part of the enclave.

• The Turkish parliament will host a two-day meeting of the Executive Council of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) from Nov. 27 - 28.

• A left-wing member of the French parliament has criticized the government's "despising" policy toward African countries.

• The Strategic Communications (Stratcom) Summit, organized by the Turkish Directorate of Communications, issued a declaration of intent on the final day that condemned the Israeli army's massacre in Gaza and described it as war crimes.

SPORTS

• Manchester City draw 1-1 with Liverpool in Premier League clash

Manchester City drew 1-1 with Liverpool in a nEnglish Premier League clash.

The Citizens' Norwegian star Erling Haaland netted the first goal of the match with a well-placed shot into the bottom right corner in the 27th minute at Etihad Stadium.

The goal made Haaland the fastest player to score 50 Premier League goals. The previous record was held by Manchester United’s Andrew Cole in 65 matches.

• Arsenal grab Premier League top seat, Newcastle win 4-1 against Chelsea

Arsenal grabbed the English Premier League top seat by beating Brentford 1-0, while Newcastle United secured a comfortable 4-1 win against Chelsea.

German attacker Kai Havertz's late goal in the 89th minute at Emirates Stadium earned Arsenal the vital victory, which has brought the top spot in the standings for the Gunners, as other contenders, Manchester City and Liverpool, settled for a 1-1 draw.

In another week 13 clash, Newcastle hammered the Blues with a good second half display.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Global market for halal food, tourism surpass $5 trillion, says Turkish president

The global market for halal products and services -- prepared in accordance with Muslim guidelines -- has grown to more than $5 trillion, with significant growth in food, tourism, cosmetics and finance, according to the Turkish president.

“Demand for halal-certified products and services is rising because these products are clean and healthy and are preferred by Muslims. Today, the world halal market has reached a total size of more than $5 trillion, especially in sectors such as food, tourism, cosmetics, and finance,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a video message sent to the 9th World Halal Summit and the 10th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Halal Expo Fair 2023 in Istanbul.

• Western sanctions caused Russia to lose 76 civilian aircraft last year, says minister

Russian Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said Western sanctions caused Russia to lose 76 civilian aircraft in 2022.

At the opening of the "Russia in Motion" exposition in Moscow, he said: "We were caught off guard by the decisions to pick up the planes. In total, we lost 76 passenger aircraft."

Sanctions against the Russian aviation industry were imposed after the start of the Russian "special military operation" in Ukraine in February 2022.​​​​​​​