Morning Briefing: Oct. 7, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday, including on 1st anniversary of Oct. 7, Israel imposing complete lockdown on West Bank, Israeli airstrike killing freelance Anadolu cameraman, as death toll of journalists in Gaza since last October rises to 175 and former US President Donald Trump returning to site of assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, vows to win presidential election.

TOP STORIES

• On 1st anniversary of Oct. 7, Israel imposing complete lockdown on West Bank

Israel has announced a complete lockdown on the occupied West Bank for Monday, marking the first anniversary of the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023 and the start of Israel’s offensive on Gaza, which is still ongoing, having so far killed some 42,000 people and injured nearly 97,000 others.

The official broadcasting authority reported that Israeli authorities have decided to enforce a full security perimeter around the West Bank, closing the crossings that connect it to Israel and preventing the entry of Palestinian workers.

The army decided to step up its military presence throughout the West Bank and on all fronts in anticipation of any events coinciding with Oct. 7, according to the broadcaster.

• Israeli airstrike kills freelance Anadolu cameraman, as death toll of journalists in Gaza since last October rises to 175

An Israeli airstrike killed Hassan Hamad, a freelancer cameraman working for Anadolu, raising the number of journalists killed in Gaza since last October to 175.

The body of Hamad, who died in Israeli shelling on his house in the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, was brought to Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip.

Mohammed Hamad, the slain journalist’s brother, said that he could only recognize Hassan by his hair as there was so little left of him after the attack.

• Trump returns to site of assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, vows to win presidential election

Former US President Donald Trump returned to the site of an assassination attempt in July, where he was wounded in his right ear during a rally.

"Tonight, I return to Butler in the aftermath of tragedy and heartache to deliver a simple message to the people of Pennsylvania and to the people of America," Trump told supporters in Butler County nearly three months after the attempt on his life.

"Our movement to make America great again stands stronger, prouder, more united, more determined and nearer to victory than ever before," he said. "We're going to make America great again, going to win the election and win the election."

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Lebanese group Hezbollah continued its bombardment of military sites and gatherings of soldiers in northern Israeli settlements using drones and rocket fire.
  
  
• A massive explosion took place near an international airport in Pakistan's commercial capital Karachi, killing at least one person and injuring several others.
  
  
• Far-right European figures gathered in Italy to support Matteo Salvini, who is facing a possible six-year prison sentence for blocking a migrant vessel from docking at an Italian port in 2019.
  
  
• Flight service to airports in Iran will be suspended until Monday morning, the Iranian Civil Aviation Authority said.
  
  
• Somalia raised concerns over illicit arms shipments into the Horn of Africa nation allegedly made by its neighbor Ethiopia.
  
  
• One Israeli was killed and nine others were injured in an attack near a bus station in southern Israel.
  
  
• Chinese government-linked hackers have infiltrated several US telecommunications companies in recent months, most likely looking for sensitive national security information.
  
  
• Ukraine claimed that its air defense shot down two Russian missiles and 56 drones during overnight airstrikes which injured one person.
  
  
• The Israeli army rounded up at least 15 more Palestinians in military raids in the occupied West Bank, according to a prisoners’ affairs group.
  
  
• At least 23 people were killed and 93 others injured in Israeli attacks across Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.
  
  
• Lebanese authorities called for piling pressure on Israel to halt its attacks against the health sector in Lebanon amid air and ground attacks on the country.
  
  
• At least 30 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in Israeli airstrikes on northern Gaza, marking the deadliest Israeli escalation since May.
  
  
• Gaza’s Interior Ministry called on Palestinian civilians to ignore Israeli orders to evacuate their areas and move south.
  
  
• Thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators took to the streets of Australia to protest Israeli forces' continued brutal attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, ahead of the first anniversary of Israel's genocidal war in Gaza.
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• More than 25 officers and soldiers from Israel’s elite forces have been killed and over 130 injured since the beginning of a ground incursion into southern Lebanon earlier this month, Hezbollah said.

SPORTS

• Barcelona secures comfortable win over Alaves on road in La Liga

Barcelona grabbed a 3-0 comfortable win over Alaves on matchday nine of the Spanish La Liga.

Robert Lewandowski netted a hat-trick in the seventh, 22nd, and 32nd minutes as the game ended in favor of Barca at Mendizorroza Stadium.

The result left Barcelona at the top of the table in league standings with 24 points, three points ahead of second-place Real Madrid.

• Manchester United held to goalless draw with Aston Villa

Manchester United played out a goalless draw with Aston Villa in week seven of the English Premier League.

Neither team was able to break the deadlock, and the English top-tier game at Villa Park ended in a goalless draw.

With this result, Manchester United are in 14th place in the league with 8 points, while Aston Villa are well ahead, in fifth place with 14 points.