Morning Briefing: Sept. 23, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday with, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying half of the Israeli hostages in Gaza are alive, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant saying that attacks on Hezbollah will continue, Ukraine saying that 21 people were injured in an overnight Russian airstrike on Kharkiv and the death toll from an Israeli airstrike in Beirut rising to 45 according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

TOP STORIES

• Half of Israeli hostages in Gaza ‘are alive,’ says Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said around half of the hostages held in Gaza “are alive.”

This comes as Netanyahu and his government face accusations from hostages’ families of abandoning them through a new proposal for a hostage swap with Hamas.

“According to the information we have, half of the hostages in Gaza are alive,” Netanyahu said during a closed meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee as cited by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

• Israel says attacks on Hezbollah to continue

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that attacks on the Lebanese group Hezbollah will persist until Israeli residents displaced from northern Israel return to their homes.

“Hezbollah is beginning to experience the strength of the Israeli army, and there is already a strong sense that they are being hunted,” Gallant said during an inspection of an Air Force base in northern Israel.

“The military operations will continue until northern Israeli residents can return home safely,” he said. “This is the goal, and we will do everything necessary to achieve it."

• Ukraine says 21 injured in overnight Russian airstrike on Kharkiv

At least 21 people were injured in an overnight Russian airstrike in Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv, local authorities said.

Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram that two guided bombs hit 16- and 9-floor buildings in the city’s Shevchenkivskyi district.

The injured included women and children, he said.

• Death toll from Israeli airstrike in Beirut rises to 45: Lebanese Health Ministry

The death toll from Friday’s Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut has risen to 45, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

In a statement, the ministry said that recovery efforts coordinated with relevant security agencies continued for the third consecutive day.

Forensic teams have begun collecting samples from the bodies of unidentified victims in hospitals for DNA testing, it added.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The speaker of Türkiye's parliament will travel to Russia Monday for an official four-day visit at the invitation of the head of Moscow's upper legislative chamber, or Federation Council.
• The Palestinian resistance group Hamas claimed to have killed and injured several Israeli soldiers in attacks in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
• EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell issued a condemnation of escalating clashes in the city of El Fasher in southwestern Sudan, warning of "additional sanctions."
• The Gaza contact group has been "doing everything to stop Israel's genocide" in the Gaza Strip, Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told a meeting, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.
• Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party made big gains and was in a tight race with the Social Democrats (SPD) in Brandenburg state elections, according to exit polls.
• Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned an Israeli raid of Al Jazeera's office in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah and the subsequent closure of the bureau.
• US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart to emphasize his concern for the safety and security of US citizens in the region, the Pentagon said.
• An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 on the Richter scale struck northeastern Iran's North Khorasan province.
• Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected as cash-strapped Sri Lanka's 9th executive president in a decisive victory.
• At least five Palestinians, including two children, were wounded by Israeli forces in a raid in the West Bank city of Nablus
• At least 51 workers were killed in a coal mine explosion in northeastern Iran.
• An Iran-backed Iraqi militia group claimed drone and missile attacks on “vital targets” in Israel.
• At least 17 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in fresh Israeli airstrikes in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

SPORTS

• Man City score late goal to secure 2-2 draw with 10-man Arsenal at home

Manchester City salvaged a 2-2 draw with 10-man Arsenal in a home match to stay on top of the English Premier League table.

Man City's Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland scored an early opener at Etihad Stadium. It was his 100th Man City goal in all competitions. Haaland, 24, has been a Man City regular since 2022.

In the 22nd minute, Arsenal's Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori scored a finesse shot outside the penalty area to equalize.

• Real Madrid earn comeback win against Espanyol; in second place chasing Spanish leaders Barcelona

Real Madrid secured a 4-1 comeback win against Espanyol to chase Spanish La Liga leaders Barcelona.

Visitors Espanyol took a 1-0 lead in the second half after Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois scored an own goal to silence the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium crowd in Madrid.

In the 54th minute, experienced goalie Courtois diverted Espanyol winger Jofre Carreras' low cross into the Real Madrid net.