Morning Briefing: Sept. 15, 2024

​​​​​​​By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start Sunday, including 5 killed and many injured in an Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza; Russia and Ukraine exchanging another patch of prisoners of war and after Israel killing 64 more Palestinians bringing Gaza death toll to near 41,200.

TOP STORIES

• 5 killed, many injured in Israeli airstrike on school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza

At least five Palestinians, including two children and a woman, were killed and several others injured in an Israeli bombing targeting a school housing displaced people in southeastern Gaza City.

"Five martyrs, including two children and a woman, and several injured, some of whom are in critical condition, in an Israeli airstrike on Zeitoun Martyrs School in Zeitoun neighborhood of southeastern Gaza City,” a Palestinian Civil Defense spokesperson said on Telegram.

The Israeli army acknowledged the bombing and claimed it targeted "a group of militants operating within a command-and-control center," which is nearly identical to the claim made after all previous strikes on displaced Palestinian camps and tents in Gaza.

• Russia, Ukraine do another exchange of prisoners of war

Russia and Ukraine held another war prisoners' exchange, with each side releasing 103 people, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

"On Sept. 14 of this year, as a result of a negotiation process, 103 Russian servicemen captured in the (Russia’s) Kursk region were returned from the territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. In return, 103 prisoners of war of Ukraine's armed forces were returned," the ministry said in a statement.

In a surprise move, Ukraine last month sent troops into Russia's Kursk region and claimed to capture many settlements.

• After Israel kills 64 more Palestinians; Gaza death toll in Israeli offensive nears 41,200

The Israeli army killed 64 more Palestinians in attacks on the Gaza Strip in the last two days, bringing the death toll since last Oct. 7 to 41,182, said the enclave’s Health Ministry.

A statement added that 95,280 others have been injured in Israel’s offensive, which has lasted nearly a year.

“Israeli forces killed 64 people and injured 155 others in four massacres of families in the last 48 hours,” it said.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• South Sudan's Cabinet approved a two-year extension of the transitional period agreed upon by conflict parties in 2018, as well as the first general elections for the same period since the independence from Sudan in 2011.
• Thousands are still stranded in areas submerged days after massive flooding in a Nigerian northeastern city, said a UN envoy.
• Changes to NATO structure and exercises in the last year are a sign of "a new era of collective defense," said the NATO Military Committee chair, adding that the alliance "is stronger and more ready than ever before."
• Three Palestinians were injured by Israeli army gunfire in the southern and northern occupied West Bank.
• The Israeli army issued new evacuation orders for Palestinians in large areas of the northern Gaza Strip, in preparation for attacking the area under the pretext of Palestinian rockets being fired toward Israel.
• A group of around 90 journalists in Germany demanded protection of colleagues in Palestine as well as access to international media personnel in Gaza.
• The Israeli army said approximately 55 rockets were fired from Lebanon into the Upper Galilee in northern Israel.
• Algeria's Constitutional Council announced that Abdelmadjid Tebboune has been reelected to a second five-year term as president.
• The Israeli army released nine Palestinian detainees who showed signs of abuse.
• Pakistan slammed the US for double standards about sanctions on its missile program, calling Washington’s move "biased and politically-motivated."
• At least 19 Palestinians, including several women and children, were killed in Israeli attacks targeting areas in the northern and southern Gaza Strip.
• Iran announced the launch of its domestically produced research satellite Chamran-1, which has been placed into orbit at an altitude of 550 kilometers (341.7 miles).
• China deployed naval and air forces to track and monitor German frigate and supply ships transiting the Taiwan Strait because it "heightened security risk and sent the wrong signals," according to the Global Times newspaper.

SPORTS

• Bayern Munich hammer Holstein Kiel 6-1 in Bundesliga

Bayern Munich hammered Holstein Kiel 6-1 in the German Bundesliga.

English striker Harry Kane rallied the Bavarians to victory with a hat-trick in the 7th, 43rd, and 91st minutes at Holstein-Stadion.

The other goals for Bayern were netted by Jamal Musiala in the first minute, Michael Olise in the 65th along with an own goal by Nicolai Remberg in the 13th minute.