August 15, 2024

*) Hamas wants ‘clear commitment’ on Gaza ceasefire talks Hamas will not join the upcoming round of Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap talks, a leader of the group has said. "The movement will not be part of the upcoming negotiations set to resume, whether they take place in Doha or Cairo," Suhail Hindi told media. He said Palestinian resistance group wants a "clear commitment" from Israel regarding what was agreed upon based on the Biden-backed proposal. *) Erdogan reaffirms support for Palestine in meeting with Abbas Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Presidential Complex in Ankara to discuss Israel's ongoing violence in occupied Palestinian territories and the steps needed for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. During the meeting, the leaders addressed the atrocities committed by Israel in Palestine. President Erdogan emphasised Türkiye’s unwavering support for Palestine’s rightful cause and its commitment to increasing international pressure on Israel. *) Israel pressures ICC to delay arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant Israel is pushing the International Criminal Court (ICC) to delay the issuance of arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes in Gaza, according to Israeli media. Official sources said Tel Aviv is putting diplomatic pressure on The Hague-based court to delay its possible arrest warrants against the two. *) Sudan ceasefire talks kick off despite army's absence Talks on securing a ceasefire in the devastating civil war in Sudan has kicked off in Switzerland despite the Sudanese government staying away. The talks are being convened by Tom Perriello, the US special envoy for Sudan. It could last up to 10 days, and is being held behind closed doors in an undisclosed location in Switzerland. *) NASA to decide stranded Starliner astronauts' route home by end of month NASA needs to decide by the end of August whether to return two astronauts to Earth aboard Boeing's Starliner, which flew them to the International Space Station , or bring them home on a SpaceX craft, officials have said. NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams blasted off for the International Space Station on Starliner on June 5 for what was meant to be an eight-day stay.