Morning Briefing: Nov. 27, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Monday, including the completion of a third round of hostage swap between Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza, an attack on Palestinian students in US, Damascus' airport going out of service due to Israeli strikes, and hospitals in Gaza on the brink of collapse.

TOP STORIES

• 3rd-round hostage swap complete as Hamas seeks humanitarian pause extension

Israel and Hamas completed the third round of a hostage swap deal on Sunday amid a four-day humanitarian pause in fighting.

Around 39 Palestinian children were freed from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank, said Palestinian authorities.

Hamas released 17 hostages, 14 Israelis and three foreigners. The Palestinian group also said that it was seeking an extension to the humanitarian pause.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an extension would be accepted in exchange for the release of 10 hostages for each additional day of the pause.

• 3 Palestinian students attacked by gunmen in Vermont, US

Three Palestinian students were attacked by gunmen in the US state of Vermont Saturday night, an official said on Sunday.

"Three young Palestinian men, Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Ali and Kenan Abdulhamid, students at Brown and other US universities, were shot last night on their way to a family dinner in Burlington," Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian Mission in the UK, said on X.

The students were reportedly receiving treatment at Vermont Medical Hospital and were not in any life-threatening situation, according to local media. Police are searching for the perpetrators of the attack.

• Damascus airport out of service after Israeli airstrikes, says Syria

The Syrian regime on Sunday claimed that the airport servicing its capital Damascus went out of operation after it was hit by Israeli airstrikes.

Syria’s official news agency SANA, citing a military source, reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted Damascus' airport at around 5 p.m. local time (1400GMT).

"Over the Golan Heights, some military points and the airport were targeted in Damascus. The air defense systems responded and shot down most of the rockets," SANA said.

• Only 3 hospitals operating in northern Gaza Strip, says Gaza Health Ministry

Despite the four-day humanitarian pause, the northern Gaza Strip only has three operational hospitals, serving some 900,000 people there, and are close to collapse, a top official warned on Sunday.

The quantities of medical aid and fuel that arrived in the Gaza Strip, especially the northern areas of the strip, are very limited and insufficient, Munir Al-Bursh, director general of the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip, told Anadolu.

"Medicines and medical supplies must be brought into Gaza in large quantities, in line with the catastrophic health situation in the strip,” he added.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• US President Joe Biden held a phone call Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, during which they pledged to "continue working to secure the release of all hostages" being held by Hamas, noting that their "work is not yet done."

• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi in a phone call exchanged views on steps to be taken for a permanent cease-fire in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, along with the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

• Tens of thousands of people on Sunday participated in a march against "anti-Semitism" in London, including former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The UK Jewish group Na'amod had said they would not join the rally.

• An Israeli-linked tanker has been seized by unidentified attackers off the coast of Yemen on Sunday, said a private intelligence company said, confirmed by a US Defense Department official.

• The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on X Sunday that the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier had navigated through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Persian Gulf.

• The Israeli army on Sunday reiterated its demand that Palestinians in the Gaza Strip should only move to the south, especially during the current four-day humanitarian pause.

• US military investigations have found that "sensitive weapons and equipment" were stolen from US outposts in Iraq and Syria, according to US media.

• As many as 700,000 people in Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip are in urgent need of services due to Israeli attacks, and fuel is essential to operate wells and facilities, Gaza Mayor Yahya Al-Sarraj told Anadolu.

• Protesters in several European cities gathered for rallies on Sunday to express support for Palestine against Israeli attacks, as demonstrators call for immediate cease-fire and justice in Palestine.

SPORTS

• Max Verstappen wins Formula 1 season finale

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen finished the 2023 season of the Formula One World Championship at the top on Sunday.

The Dutch pilot won the last race of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with 1 hour 27 minutes, and 2.624 seconds to secure his 19th win in 22 races.

• Inter settle for 1-1 draw with Juventus

Italian Serie A leaders Inter Milan settled for a 1-1 draw with runners-up Juventus on Sunday.

The Bianconeri's Dusan Vlahovic brought the lead to the hosts in the 27th minute at Allianz Stadium.

The Nerazzuri quickly responded as they leveled the score with Lautaro Martinez just six minutes later.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US shoppers spend record $9.8B online on Black Friday

US consumers spent a record $9.8 billion online on Black Friday, up 7.5% from the previous year, local media reported.

According to the report, Black Friday's top-selling categories were smartwatches, televisions, toys, and gaming.

Earlier, Adobe Analytics, which covers most US online retailing sites, reported that Americans spent $5.6 billion in online shopping on Thanksgiving Day, up 5.5% from last year.