Alperen Aktas
August 17, 2024•Update: August 18, 2024
ISTANBUL
Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start Saturday, including the US saying Israeli settler attacks in West Bank are "unacceptable and must stop;" the Israeli army ordering new evacuations in central and southern Gaza and the EU condemning Israeli settler violence.
TOP STORIES
- US says Israeli settler attacks in West Bank are 'unacceptable and must stop'
The US said attacks by "violent" illegal Israeli settlers on civilians in the occupied West Bank "are unacceptable and must stop" after one person was killed in a mob attack on a Palestinian village.
"Attacks by violent settlers against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank are unacceptable and must stop," a State Department spokesperson told Anadolu while adding that the US also welcomes reports that the Israeli army arrested one Israeli suspected of taking part in the attack.
"We encourage Israeli authorities to take measures to protect all communities from harm, this includes intervening and stopping such violence. We urge Israel and the Palestinian Authority to do everything possible to de-escalate tensions and hold all perpetrators of such violence to account," the spokesperson added.
- Israeli army orders new evacuations in central, southern Gaza Strip
Israel issued new evacuation orders for residents of several areas in the central and southern Gaza Strip that were classified as “humanitarian safe zones” by its army.
In a statement, the Israeli army ordered residents of neighborhoods north of Khan Younis in southern Gaza and neighborhoods in eastern Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza to evacuate.
It claimed that the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, “operates” from those areas and that they will be “dangerous combat zones.”
- EU condemns Israeli settler violence
The EU condemns settler attacks by Israel in Jit in thr northern West Bank, and urges Tel Aviv to halt the “unacceptable” actions, said the EU foreign policy chief.
“We condemn settlers attacks in Jit, aimed at terrorising Palestinian civilians,” Josep Borrell wrote on X.
“Day after day, in an almost total impunity, Israeli settlers fuel violence in the occupied West Bank, contributing to endanger any chance of peace,” he noted.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- Israeli army carried out a drone attack in Gaza City, killing five Palestinians and injuring several others, according to multiple sources.
- The US State Department approved a possible sale of tactical missiles and related support to Canada for an estimated $264.6 million, according to the Pentagon.
- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi discussed with his US counterpart, Joe Biden, the outcome of negotiations in Qatar to reach a cease-fire in Gaza.
- US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant discussed rising tensions in the Middle East, said the Pentagon.
- Türkiye strongly condemned a social media post by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, blasting it as "slander" and "disinformation."
- At least two civilians were killed and 11 injured in a missile strike by Ukraine on a shopping mall in the eastern city of Donetsk, local media reported.
- Russian authorities announced that the entry to six settlements in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine will be closed starting Aug. 19.
- The US and Ukrainian army chiefs discussed the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war.
- The UN chief stressed the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza and called for a critical "Polio pause" to facilitate a major vaccination campaign.
- US envoy to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the need to conclude a Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal.
- Mediators in the Gaza cease-fire talks announced that they proposed a new plan to bridge gaps between Israel and Hamas.
- Moscow announced that fighting with Ukrainian troops in Russia's Kursk region is ongoing but did not comment on Kyiv's claims of taking control of the town of Sudzha.
- Germany has strongly condemned rising Israeli settler violence against Palestinians, and urged the Israeli government to take the necessary measures to stop such attacks.
- Taiwan has been rattled by two strong tremors since Thursday, said officials.
- The British foreign secretary said he is pleased that the first day of Doha talks has gone well, expressing hopes that parties may be "on the cusp of a deal."
- Mpox cases have surged in Australia, with 35 new cases reported in the last 15 days amid a global health emergency.
- Russian media reported that at least two civilians were killed in a missile strike by Ukraine on the Galaktika shopping mall in Donetsk.
- Norway's foreign minister said his country would continue supporting the Palestinian people amid Israeli hostility the country faces.
- Moscow claimed that Western intelligence services orchestrated Ukrainian troops' incursion into the Kursk region in western Russia, which borders Ukraine, and dismissed the US’ denials of involvement.
- Over 1,000 people have been arrested and nearly 600 charged in connection with far-right riots that erupted across the UK following a deadly stabbing attack in Southport on July 29.
- Malaysia successfully evacuated 127 Palestinians from Gaza, bringing them to safety in the Southeast Asian nation.
- Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party was elected Thailand's 31st prime minister.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- US consumer sentiment rebounds from 8-month low
US consumer sentiment rose in August to rebound from its lowest level in eight months, according to preliminary results from the University of Michigan's consumer survey.
The index of consumer sentiment climbed 1.4 points to 67.8 in August, from 66.4 in July. The expectation for the index was to come in at 66.7.
The figure, in addition, marked its first increase in five months.
- Oil prices drop amid Middle East cease-fire prospects, Fed rate cut uncertainty
Oil prices fell as new cease-fire and prisoner swap talks began between Israel and Hamas, amid uncertainty about the timing of a potential US Federal Reserve interest rate cut.
International benchmark Brent crude fell 0.4% to $80.69 per barrel at 10.31 a.m. local time (0731GMT), down from the previous session's close of $81.04. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was down 0.5% to $77.84 after closing at $78.16 in the prior session.
Both benchmarks declined following the start of talks in the Middle East, a region holding the majority of the world’s oil reserves.
