By Esra Tekin
ANKARA (AA) — Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday, including a warning by Gaza's Health Ministry that Israeli onslaught may cause starvation at the Al-Shifa Hospital, while over two dozen in the besieged Palestinian enclave were killed by Israeli airstrikes, the EU said it was evaluating Israel's signal to extend its occupation in Gaza that has triggered concern at the UN.
TOP STORIES
Gaza’s Health Ministry warned Saturday of starvation at the Al-Shifa Hospital amid an ongoing Israeli raid on the facility.
“No food or water supplies have entered the Al-Shifa complex for the past eight days,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a statement carried by Al Jazeera television.
“The patients at Al-Shifa are starving and in pain, and the displaced people cannot find a piece of bread,” he said. “There are between 7,000 and 10,000 inside the hospital, and the food that was allowed into the facility is only sufficient for 400 people."
At least 26 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip early Saturday, according to local sources.
Fighter jets struck residential buildings in Hamad Town, northwest of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, killing 26 people, including several children, and injuring dozens, Palestinian news agency Wafa said, citing local sources.
Several people were also killed and injured in fresh airstrikes in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, Wafa said.
EU spokesperson Peter Stano commented Friday on signals given by Israel that it could extend its occupation in the Gaza Strip to the southern regions and said discussions are ongoing on how to organize the situation in the field after the end of Israel's operation.
Stano responded to a question from Anadolu about Israel signaling an extension of its occupation in Gaza to the south, and how the EU views the development that could turn the situation of displaced civilians into a larger catastrophe.
Meanwhile, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UNSecretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the UN is "very concerned" about further Israeli operations in the southern Gaza Strip. Separately, Volker Turk, the UN's human rights chief, Israel's proposed so-called "safe zone" is "neither safe nor feasible," as civilians must be protected throughout Gaza wherever they are.
Sedat Onal, Türkiye's UN envoy, warned at a plenary session of the UN General Assembly that he extent of human suffering being inflicted on the people of Gaza is unparalleled in modern history.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- The secretary of state of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, underscored on Friday the critical importance of respecting hospitals and places of worship in international humanitarian law.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is looking for an "illusion" at the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Hamas said Friday.
- Portugal's Foreign Minister Jose Gomes Cravinho expressed deep sorrow Friday for the tragic deaths of three Portuguese nationals, including two children, in recent Israeli bombing attacks in the Gaza Strip.
In a visit to Germany, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that if Ankara and Berlin jointly achieve a humanitarian cease-fire in the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza, the region could be rescued from a "ring of fire."
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday said every effort should be made to reduce the number of civilian victims in Gaza.
Turkish Communications Director Fahrettin Altun on Friday condemned an attack by Israeli police against Turkish journalists in Jerusalem.
The Finnish Border Guard announced Friday that border restrictions would take effect at midnight local time to place barriers at crossings it shares with Russia to deter asylum seekers.
The Israeli army said Friday that its forces had retrieved the body of a soldier who was held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
A strong 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck Burias Island in the southern Philippines at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) at around 0814 GMT on Friday, according to the US Geological Survey.
SPORTS
- Italy hammer North Macedonia 5-2 to keep hopes alive of playing at EURO 2024
Italy beat North Macedonia 5-2 to keep their hopes alive Friday of playing at EURO 2024 in week nine of the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying matches.
Italy broke the deadlock with a header from Matteo Darmian in the 17th minute while Federico Chiesa made a long-range finish to double the gap in the 41st minute at Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
- Argentina lose to Uruguay in World Cup qualifiers in their 1st defeat since Qatar 2022
Lionel Messi-led Argentina on Thursday suffered a 2-0 home loss to Uruguay in a 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifier – their first defeat since Qatar 2022.
Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo scored the opening goal in the first half before Liverpool star Darwin Nunez doubled the gap near the end of the match at Buenos Aires' Bombonera Stadium, ending Argentina’s 14-match unbeaten streak.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- Fed needs 'boldness to wait' in policy amid uncertainty: Official
The head of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank said Friday that the Fed needs "boldness to wait" in its future monetary policy decisions due to uncertainty.
"More recently, policymakers across the globe acted decisively in response to the pandemic, bringing all their tools to bear to offset the impending damage to the economy," Mary C. Daly said in a speech at the 33rd Frankfurt European Banking Congress held in Germany.