By Rabia Ali
ISTANBUL (AA) – Here's a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday, including Israeli airstrikes on Gaza hospitals, Hamas denying humanitarian truce agreement reached with Israel, the death of an Israeli soldier in Gaza due to Israeli bombardment, and US President Joe Biden saying no possibility of a cease-fire in Gaza.
TOP STORIES
- Israel targets hospitals as death toll climbs to 10,812
Israeli warplanes targeted the surroundings of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza with airstrikes overnight, causing casualties among displaced people and medical teams, an official said early Friday.
Ashraf Al-Qudra, the Health Ministry spokesman in Gaza, said similar strikes were conducted on hospitals in the central and northern Gaza Strip in the past few hours.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip climbed to 10,812, the Health Ministry earlier said.
The victims included 4,412 children, 2,918 women and 676 elders, while more than 26,000 people were injured.
- Hamas denies humanitarian truce deal reached with Israel
A top aide to Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh denied Thursday that a humanitarian truce had been reached with Israel, adding that negotiations are continuing.
"The negotiations are ongoing … no agreement has been reached with Israel," said Taher al-Nono, Haniyeh's media adviser.
The statement came shortly after the White House announced that Israel had agreed to hold "humanitarian pauses" set to last four hours daily in northern Gaza starting on Thursday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said that any cease-fire is contingent on the release of the hostages held by Hamas.
- 1 Israeli prisoner killed, another injured in attack by Israel on Gaza Strip
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, announced the death of a female Israeli soldier and the wounding of a male soldier who had both been captured in attacks carried out by Israel on Thursday in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement on its Telegram account, the Al-Qassam Brigades said 19-year-old female soldier Faul Azai Mark Asiani from the Jewish settlement of Modi’in died and the other soldier was moderately injured. There has been no statement from Israel so far on the matter.
- 'No possibility' of cease-fire in Gaza: Biden
US President Joe Biden said Thursday there is "no possibility" of a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
"None. No possibility," Biden said in response to a question about the chances of a cease-fire as he left the White House for a trip to the state of Illinois.
Asked if he has any update on getting hostages out, Biden said he is "still optimistic."
His remarks came hours after National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby announced that Israel agreed to institute four-hour daily humanitarian pauses in northern parts of the besieged enclave.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday called on the Economic Cooperation Organization to speak out against Israel's attack on Gaza, adding that Israel continues bombardments, "crushing all humanitarian values."
- Another 10 Palestinians were killed by Israeli army fire in the West Bank on Thursday, taking the death toll in the occupied territory since the recent conflict flared up to 173, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
- Israel's parliament late Wednesday passed an amendment to criminalize the consumption of pro-Hamas materials. Lawmakers voted to amend the country’s counterterrorism law to make it a criminal offense to "consume terrorist materials."
- Israeli warplanes bombed eight hospitals in the Gaza Strip in the past three days, the government media office in Gaza said. "The Israeli aggression forced 18 hospitals out of service since Oct. 7," it added.
- Israel ending its attacks on Gaza would promote peace in the region and the world, Turkish President Erdogan told his Iranian counterpart Raisi in a meeting in Uzbekistan, adding that Türkiye is ready to resolve issue by taking responsibility as a guarantor.
- An Israeli soldier was killed in the Gaza Strip, taking the death toll to 35 since Israel expanded a ground offensive in the blockaded enclave on Oct. 27, the army said on Thursday.
- The UN said Thursday that any halt to the conflict in the Gaza Strip for humanitarian purposes needs to be coordinated with the global body, hours after Israel announced it would provide daily humanitarian pauses in the besieged enclave.
- Around 50% of the housing in Gaza has been destroyed amid the Israel-Palestine conflict, said the UN Development Program, warning that the human development index is expected to decline sharply, setting the State of Palestine back by 11-16 years.
- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said Thursday that the country will hold snap elections on March 10. The announcement followed the unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Antonio Costa after he was named in a corruption probe.
SPORTS
- Bulgarian club Ludogorets beat Fenerbahce in Conference League
Bulgaria's Ludogorets beat the Istanbul side Fenerbahce 2-0 in a UEFA Europa Conference League Group H match on Thursday.
Polish midfielder Jakub Piotrowski's screamer from long range in the 18th minute brought the lead to the hosts in Razgrad.
Brazilian forward Rwan Seco's low shot in the 92nd minute ensured the vital victory for Ludogorets.
- Real Madrid extend contract with Federico Valverde
Federico Valverde on Thursday extended his contract with Real Madrid until June 30, 2029, the club announced in a statement.
Valverde, who joined Real Madrid from RM Castilla in 2018, won the 2022 UEFA Champions League title, the 2023 UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cups (2018, 2023).
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- Africa faces about $30B in climate-related losses by 2030, warns expert
Africa is estimated to lose about $30 billion or 15% of its gross domestic product annually to climate change effect by 2030, an international financial expert said on Thursday.
"Africa is estimated to lose 5% to 15% of its projected GDP by 2050 with a projected climate adaptation cost of $10 billion to $30 billion annually by 2030," warned Thabo Thamane, head of the Association of African Development Finance Institutions.
- Iran, Afghanistan sign 5 key economic agreements
Iran and Afghanistan signed five economic cooperation agreements related to transportation, civil aviation, mining, and free trade zones.
A delegation from the interim Taliban government in Afghanistan met with Iranian officials in Tehran and held economic discussions, the official Iranian news agency IRNA reported.