Morning Briefing: May 6, 2024

ISTANBUL

Here's a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday, including Israeli bombing of UNRWA office in Gaza, Hamas's insistence on permanent cease-fire and Biden administration’s rare move which suspended shipment of US-made ammunition to Israel.

TOP STORIES

• Israel bombs UNRWA building in Gaza Strip, claiming it was 'Hamas base'

The Israeli army bombed a building belonging to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip late Sunday.

Israel’s state broadcaster KAN said Israeli forces claimed the building was a "military command center" used by the Palestinian group Hamas.

Apart from the attack, many people died in airstrikes carried out by Israeli warplanes on two schools in Gaza where displaced families had taken shelter.

• Israel ‘unaware’ of US decision to suspend ammunition shipment: Report

Israel is “unaware” of any US decision to put a hold on a shipment of ammunition to Israel, an Israeli source said.

Tel Aviv “is not aware of any US decision regarding stopping or reducing military support to Israel,” said public broadcaster KAN, citing a political source.

“It is possible that one shipment or another will be delayed, but the flow continues and we are not aware of a political decision to stop it,” the source added.

US news website Axios, citing two Israeli officials, said the Biden administration last week put a hold on a shipment of US-made ammunition to Israel.

• Hamas insists on permanent cease-fire in Gaza: Senior official

Hamas insists that any hostage swap deal with Israel must include a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, the head of the resistance group’s international relations office said.

In an interview with the Al-Aqsa TV channel posted on Telegram, Mousa Abu Marzouk said there would be a meeting of Palestinian factions in China and they hoped it would lead to an end to any divisions.

Regarding negotiations between Hamas and Israel for an agreement, Abu Marzouk said “the resistance insists that the agreement include a permanent cease-fire.”

“We seek to include Russia, Türkiye and China as guarantors,” he said.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Panama’s electoral authority declared Jose Raul Mulino as winner of country’s presidential election.
• US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant spoke by phone about talks between Israel and Hamas on a hostage deal that would lead to a cease-fire in Gaza Strip.
• Nearly 2,500 people said to have been arrested at pro-Palestinian rallies at college and university campuses across US.
• Students protesting Israel’s war on Gaza abandon encampment at University of Southern California after being surrounded by police and threatened with arrest.
• Heavy rains and floods in southern Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sol state have left 78 people dead and 105 others missing.
• Russia accused Baltic countries of conduct that led to them severing their relations with Moscow, and threatened to respond with asymmetric measures.
• The Foreign Press Association, which represents foreign media in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, condemned decision to close Al Jazeera network.
• Top Turkish and Pakistani diplomats discussed bilateral relations, with a focus on the economic, trade, and defense sectors.
• Nearly four in 10 Americans say the US is doing too much to support Israel in the onslaught in the Gaza Strip, according to a new survey.

SPORTS

• Bayer Leverkusen beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1

German champions Bayer Leverkusen hammered Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 to extend their unbeaten streak to 48 games in all competitions as they leveled with Portuguese club Benfica's 59-year record.

Granit Xhaka, Patrik Schick, Exequiel Palacios, Jeremie Frimpong and Victor Boniface scored for Leverkusen, who were the guests in a German Bundesliga match held in Frankfurt.

Hugo Ekitike scored the only goal for the home side.

• Argentina's FIFA World Cup winning head coach Cesar Luis Menotti dies

Argentina's FIFA World Cup winning head coach Cesar Luis Menotti died at the age of 85, the country's football body said.

Menotti guided Argentina to their first-ever World Cup triumph on home soil in 1978.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Türkiye aims to reach $60 billion in trade relations with Germany

Türkiye’s bilateral trade relations with Germany have achieved great successes, Turkish Ambassador to Germany Ahmet Basar Sen said at the 8th Turkish-German Economy Day event held in Dusseldorf.

“We are proud of the economic vitality made possible by Turkish people in Germany ever since the 1960s, with the companies they established with large capital, as well as our young people and people with experience who created lives for themselves, working in many sectors of Europe and Germany,” said Sen.

• Saudi delegation arrives in Pakistan to boost trade, investments

A high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia arrived in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on a two-day visit to explore investment opportunities.

The delegation led by the kingdom's deputy investment minister comprised representatives from more than 30 Saudi companies, according to Federal Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik.