Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) — Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

⁠Gaza ceasefire, hostage swap deal

Developments in phase one of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

The phase, which includes a hostage-prisoner exchange, started on Jan. 19 and is set to last for 42 days.

Hamas on Saturday released six Israeli hostages in the seventh exchange under the deal. Next week the remains of four more hostages will complete the first phase of the agreement.

In return, Israel was scheduled to release 620 Palestinian prisoners, including 50 serving life sentences and 23 children arrested after Oct. 7, 2023.

Israel, however, postponed the release, with the premier’s office saying the delay was “until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies.”

⁠Humanitarian and security situation in Gaza amid ceasefire

Humanitarian and security situation in the Gaza Strip as Israel continues to violate the ceasefire.

A large-scale polio vaccination campaign was launched in Gaza on Saturday aiming to immunize approximately 600,000 Palestinian children under the age of 10.

The campaign is being conducted in collaboration with the Gaza Health Ministry, the WHO, UNICEF and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

⁠Israeli raids in West Bank

Nearly daily Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank, especially in Jenin, accompanied by illegal settler violence against Palestinians and their property.

Israeli forces carried out a series of raids across the occupied West Bank targeting Palestinian homes and threatening the families of those expected to be freed, sources and witnesses said.

Last month, the Israeli army launched a military offensive on the northern West Bank, which resulted in at least 60 fatalities and thousands of displacements.

Israel has killed at least 920 people in the occupied territory since October 2023 and injured nearly 7,000 others, with more than 14,300 taken into custody.

Israel's violations in southern Lebanon after partial withdrawal

Aftermath of the incomplete Israeli army withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported Saturday that the Israeli army fired on a car on the outskirts of the town of Hula in southern Lebanon, causing it to catch fire.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel has committed nearly 1,000 violations, killing and injuring dozens in Lebanon, including women and children.

⁠Hezbollah to hold mass funeral for late leader Nasrallah

Lebanon's Hezbollah is set to hold a mass funeral for its former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sept. 27, 2024.

Nasrallah, who assumed the party’s leadership in 1992, was temporarily buried at a secret location.

The funeral in Beirut's southern suburbs will also honor Hashem Safieddine, another top leader of the group.

Military and humanitarian situation in war-torn Sudan

The security and humanitarian situation in the northern African country as the Sudanese army in recent days has gained against paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in key areas and states.

The Sudanese army launched a new attack on Saturday against the RSF to wrest control of the Soba Bridge east of Khartoum from their grasp.

Meanwhile, explosions were heard as a result of artillery shelling by the army toward central Khartoum, which lasted for several hours.

In another direction, the army launched airstrikes on RSF clusters around the city of El Fasher in the western part of the country.

The civil war and a worsening humanitarian crisis has also led to a large cholera outbreak in the country, with nearly 1,200 cases and 83 deaths being recorded in the White Nile state this week.

Early parliamentary elections in Germany

German voters will head to the polls to elect a new parliament, with the center-right Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) widely predicted to return to power after over three years in opposition.

More than 59 million German citizens are eligible to vote, including 2.3 million first-time voters, according to official data. Over 7 million eligible voters have immigrant backgrounds, including more than 1 million German citizens of Turkish origin.

Conservative leader Friedrich Merz’s CDU/CSU is currently leading the polls with 29%, putting them nearly 14 percentage points ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD).

According to the latest Forsa Institute poll, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has climbed to 21%, strengthening its position as the country’s second-strongest political force. The anti-immigrant party, however, has no path to power since all other parties have ruled out forming a coalition with them.

With no party expected to secure an absolute majority, complex negotiations are expected after the elections. Analysts see a coalition government between the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats as the most likely outcome, but with a large number of undecided voters and Germany's complex electoral system, much depends on the final configuration of parliament and distribution of seats.

Putin to present state awards

Russian President Vladimir Putin will present state awards on the occasion of the Defender of Motherland Day, celebrated in Russia on Feb. 23.

⁠Zelenskyy to hold news conference

Ukraine. Year 2025 forum will be held with the participation of heads of state institutions, which will end with a press conference by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Political crisis in South Korea continues

Political crisis in South Korea continues amid the ongoing impeachment trial of imprisoned President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon was also booked over his alleged attempt to block his arrest. He has already been indicted over abuse of power as well as insurrection and is facing unprecedented criminal trial.

Pakistan, Afghanistan key border crossing closed

Torkham, a key border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has been closed following a verbal clash between the officials of two countries over the construction of a security check post by Taliban interim administration. The border was shut down for travelers and vehicles since Saturday morning.

Palau president pays visit to Philippines

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. pays a two-day official visit to the Philippines. Whipps and host President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. are expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in fisheries, trade, investment, connectivity.

Situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Since January, M23 rebels have intensified their control in eastern Congo, capturing the cities of Goma and Bukavu in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control recently announced economic sanctions against Rwanda's State Minister for Regional Integration James Kabarebe due to alleged Rwandan support to the M23 rebel group.