December 15, 2023

1) Israeli leaflets incite Gaza residents to spy on Hamas leaders The Israeli army has dropped leaflets over besieged Gaza, inciting displaced Palestinians to spy on Hamas leaders. Leaflets state that individuals offering information will be rewarded financially, with the amounts specified as follows: Yahya Sinwar at $400,000, Muhammed Sinwar at $300,000, Rafaa Salameh at $200,000, and Mohammed Deif at $100,000. 2) Türkiye condemns Israeli soldiers' provocation at a mosque in West Bank The Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli has slammed Israeli soldiers for performing Jewish rituals inside a mosque in the occupied West Bank. Keceli expressed strong condemnation on social media, urging that such attacks on Muslim holy places be halted immediately. He called for the severe punishment of those responsible for such provocations. Keceli concluded his remarks with, 'The region needs more peace, not more violence.' 3) Turkish President Erdogan says Washington's withdrawal of its support for Israel would ensure a quick ceasefire President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during a phone call with President Joe Biden on Thursday night. He suggested that a swift ceasefire could be achieved if the US withdraws its unconditional support for Israel. Erdogan emphasised the historical responsibility of the US to promptly achieve a lasting ceasefire in the region. *) Russia’s Putin says there will be no peace in Ukraine until Russia achieves its goals Russian President Vladimir Putin, addressing the Russia-Ukraine war in a year-end news conference, declared that peace in Ukraine is contingent upon the realisation of the Kremlin's unchanged goals after nearly two years of conflict. He dismissed the idea of a second wave of reservist mobilisation, a widely unpopular proposal in Russia. Putin mentioned that approximately 617,000 Russian soldiers are currently deployed in Ukraine, with around 244,000 called up to support professional military forces. *) Pope Francis urges global treaty on AI ethics for a safer future Pope Francis, in a six-page message released ahead of the Catholic Church's World Day of Peace on January 1, has urged global leaders to adopt a treaty regulating the ethical use of artificial intelligence. The 86-year-old pontiff acknowledged the positive impact of technological advances but cautioned against the risks posed by AI. He also emphasised concerns related to disinformation, election interference, and the blurred responsibility in decision-making, ranging from social security payments to weapon targeting.