ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
PALESTINE
Gaza City – Israel's onslaught on Gaza has reached its 136th day. The death toll from incessant Israeli attacks has reached 28,985, with 68,883 others injured. The blockaded Gaza Strip faces the threat of famine due to shortage of humanitarian assistance and aid. Palestinian government authorities have warned that residents of the northern governorates are now unable to find even fodder to eat.
A wave of reverse displacement has started from Rafah in the south to the central governorates as Israel plans a ground offensive into Rafah. The city is home to 1.4 million displaced Palestinians.
Ramallah - Israeli army raids into cities and towns of the occupied West Bank have killed 398 Palestinians and injured over 4,500 others since Oct. 7. The number of arrests has risen to 7,060, reaching record highs over approximately 4 months.
LEBANON
Beirut – The Lebanese-Israeli border is witnessing a serious escalation since the beginning of the war on Gaza.
ISRAEL
Tel Aviv – Evening rallies demand release of Israeli captives held in Gaza and the resignation of Netanyahu’s government.
QATAR
Doha - Day 2 of the meeting on Afghanistan ongoing in Doha. The meeting hosted by the UN secretary-general saw an invitation extended to the Taliban government, following their exclusion from the first meeting in May.
EGYPT
Cairo – International and regional reactions to pour in over Egypt's memorandum to the International Court of Justice on Wednesday regarding Israeli practices against Palestinians. The memorandum includes affirming the illegitimacy of the Israeli occupation that has lasted for more than 75 years, policies of annexation of territories, demolition of homes, expulsion, displacement, and deportation of Palestinians, in violation of the rules of international law, including the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people and the prohibition of land seizure through the use of armed force.
ALGERIA
Algeria – Reactions on UN Security Council vote on Tuesday on Algerian resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.
YEMEN
Sanaa – The escalating and continuous tension in the Red Sea due to Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel and US retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen.
BELGIUM
Brussels - EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to chair a meeting of foreign ministers from the European Union. EU officials have targeted the meeting as a deadline to agree action on an EU naval mission to protect ships from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. The agenda for the meeting includes informal exchange of views with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
THE NETHERLANDS
The Hague – The ICJ public hearings on Israeli practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to begin. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) opens public hearings following a UN General Assembly request for an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The UNGA resolution asks the ICJ to determine legal consequences 'arising from the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, from its prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, and from its adoption of related discriminatory legislation and measures', as well as how those policies and practices affect the legal status of the occupation.
UK
London – Ministers from the Ministry of Defense to respond to questions from lawmakers in the House of Commons. Questions regarding the Red Sea operations to end Houthi attacks are likely to be asked.
GERMANY
Berlin - EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to hold a news conference following a party meeting of center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU). She is widely expected to announce her candidacy for a second term as EU commission president.
Berlin - Commemorative events to be held in various German cities to remember the victims of racist terror attack in Hanau four years ago. On Feb 19. 2020, a far-right extremist stormed two cafes in Hanau and shot dead nine people with migrant backgrounds.
TÜRKİYE
Ankara - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to officially welcome Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the Presidential Complex, followed by bilateral and delegation-level meetings. Afterward, there will be a signing ceremony for agreements and a joint press conference.
RUSSIA
Moscow — President Vladimir Putin will take part in the annual forum titled “Strong Ideas for New Times,” which is being organized by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives and Roscongress.
UKRAINE
Kyiv — Ukraine celebrates its Day of the State Coat of Arms, which commemorates the adoption of the blue shield with a golden trident as the country's coat of arms in 1992.
JAPAN
Tokyo – Government hosts Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction in Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal saw signing of more than 50 agreements as representatives of around 130 companies from the two countries discussed plans for bilateral cooperation covering seven areas, including agriculture and infrastructure.
SPECIAL REPORTS
INTERVIEW – Palestinian premier urges Germany to use its ‘unique relationship’ with Israel to stop Gaza war
By Burak Bir
Munich – Interview with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, focusing on Israel’s ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.
Shtayyeh speaks about the efforts being made by the Palestinian government to push the international community to stop Israel’s planned incursion into Rafah and ensure an immediate halt to Israel’s deadly onslaught, which has now killed around 29,000 Palestinians and laid waste to large parts of the besieged enclave.
He says the Palestinian Authority has been working with Qatar, Egypt, Türkiye and all other major regional players for a cease-fire, while specifically calling on the German government to use its “unique relationship” with to pressure Israel.
‘They destroyed our heritage’: Nigeria seeks compensation, return of artifacts looted by Britain
By Timothy Olanrewaju
Abuja, Nigeria – Report about the growing calls in Nigeria for the return of historical artifacts that were looted by British colonial forces more than a century ago.
The report gives details of the British invasion of the historical Kingdom of Benin, now in southern Nigeria, nearly 130 years ago, and the thousands of treasured artifacts, including bronzes, ivories and sculptures, that were taken away.
It includes interviews with experts including Benson Osadolor, professor of history and international politics at the University of Benin, and Mayo Adediran, former president of the International Council of African Museums.
NEW MEDIA
VIDEO – Interview with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh about his government’s efforts to push the international community to stop Israel’s planned incursion into Rafah and ensure an immediate halt to the deadly onslaught on the Gaza Strip.