Morning Briefing: October 20, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here's a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday, including Israel's air attack on a Greek Orthodox Church, a US warship shooting down Houthi’s missiles, and Lebanon's plan to counter the consequences of border tensions with Israel.

TOP STORIES

• Israeli continues to bomb Gaza, storms West Bank, strikes church

At least eight people were killed and many others were injured in an Israeli airstrike on the Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza, the Palestinian news agency WAFA said on Thursday.

Condemning the attack, the head of the Higher Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine said Israel is carrying out a "genocide" plan against the people of Gaza.

The Israeli army continued to bomb several neighborhoods and sites in the Gaza Strip early Friday, while also attacking several cities in the West Bank.

More than 3,785 Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 7, while the death toll in the West Bank has risen to 80.

• Biden seeks more support for Israel, Ukraine in Oval Office speech

US President Joe Biden said he will send Congress “an urgent budget request” on Friday to fund America's national security needs to support its “critical partners,” including Israel and Ukraine.

"The security package I'm sending to Congress is an unprecedented commitment to Israel's security that will sharpen Israel's qualitative military edge,” he added.

Biden is expected to request approximately $100 billion in emergency funding that would include defense assistance for Israel and Ukraine.

• US warship shoots down missiles, drones 'potentially' targeting Israel

A US Navy warship intercepted cruise missiles and drones launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels that were "potentially" targeting Israel, the Pentagon said Thursday.

The USS Carney Arleigh Burke-class destroyer was operating in the northern Red Sea when it intercepted three "land attack cruise missiles, and several drones" that were launched by the Houthis, Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters.

The missiles were launched from inside Yemen, and were heading north along the Red Sea "potentially towards targets in Israel," Ryder added.

• Lebanon approves plan to counter repercussions from border tensions with Israel

Lebanon approved a comprehensive plan on Thursday to counter possible repercussions on its infrastructure and public facilities from an escalation of tensions on its border with Israel.

The plan was approved during a Cabinet meeting chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Media Minister Ziad Makari reassured citizens that the government is working to develop a pre-war plan and is prepared for any consequences that could threaten bridges, roads, commercial ports, and airports.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The Israeli army claimed on Thursday that it had targeted a cell in southern Lebanon made up of three Hezbollah militants who were preparing to launch anti-tank missiles toward Israeli territory.

• Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced late Thursday that his country will open an embassy in Palestine’s central city of Ramallah.

• Canada is not prepared to name who is responsible for the strike on a hospital in Gaza this week that killed and maimed hundreds of Palestinians, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

• Israel has left around 600,000 people in Gaza without clean water since cutting off supplies on Oct. 11, according to Human Rights Watch.

• The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon has called on the Israeli army to declare a cease-fire in order to facilitate a rescue operation near the Blue Line.

• The European Union wants to speed up the return of people who do not have a legal right to stay in the bloc to their countries of origin, Commissioner of Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said.

• Canada has pulled 41 diplomats from India after New Delhi threatened to strip them of diplomatic immunity “tomorrow,” Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced.

• Hundreds of Jewish people held a demonstration Thursday in the British capital to protest Israel’s attacks on Gaza and to commemorate those killed in a strike on a hospital.

SPORTS

• No UEFA matches in Israel ‘until further notice’

The UEFA Executive Committee decided Thursday that no UEFA matches will be played in Israel until further notice because of the conflict between Palestinians and Israel.

The decision came after an evaluation of the current safety and security situation in Israel, according to a statement.

The UEFA Europa League Group F match between Villarreal CF and Maccabi Haifa has been postponed to Dec. 6.

• Turkish Football Federation says minute’s silence to be held for Palestine before matches

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced Thursday that a moment of silence for Palestine will be held before this week's league matches.

The federation also said the players will appear on the field wearing black armbands.

At least 3,785 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza. The death toll in Israel stands at more than 1,400.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Fed chair says lower growth needed to bring inflation down

US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday a lower economic growth is needed to bring high inflation down.

"Inflation is still too high, and a few months of good data are only the beginning of what it will take to build confidence that inflation is moving down sustainably toward our goal," he said in New York.

• Netflix adds 8.7M subscribers despite strike, price hike

Netflix added 8.76 million subscribers in the third quarter of this year, despite actors' strikes and price hikes.

The company's global streaming paid memberships climbed to 247.15 million during the three months ending Sept. 30, up from 238.39 million in the second quarter, according to its financial results.