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Middle East conflict

Two mln people may die in Gaza without world's help — Turkish foreign minister

Hakan Fidan underlined that "it will become a great moral burden that the globe will not be able to bear"

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan

© Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

ANKARA, January 29. /TASS/. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan believes that the situation in the Gaza Strip may turn to catastrophe with two million people dying unless the global community steps up and takes action, he said at a press conference in Albania, where he is on an official visit.

"Humanitarian aid and medical supplies are not allowed into Gaza. This is a harbinger of a major catastrophe within the Strip. I call on the international community to do all it can to prevent the annihilation of the two million people who have been held hostage by famine and epidemics," he said, as broadcast by the Anadolu agency.

What is currently happening in Gaza is "a tragedy on another scale," he said. "If we do not immediately start preventing it, it may become too late. If, in addition to the bombs, people there begin to die of hunger and disease, it will become a great moral burden that the globe will not be able to bear," he added.

The Middle East situation dramatically escalated after the Hamas militants entered Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, killing border residents and taking hostages. The radical movement labeled the attack a retaliation to the Israeli authorities' actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel announced a total blockade of Gaza and started striking the Strip and certain areas in Lebanon and Syria before launching a ground operation in the enclave. The West Bank is also experiencing fighting.

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Press review: Uranium costs soar as Moscow updates nuclear doctrine and US OKs attacks

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, November 20th

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Putin’s Q&A session and press conference to be held on one of December Thursdays — Kremlin

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Pentagon confirms that US authorized use of antipersonnel landmines in Ukraine

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US Congressman urges to impeach Biden for allowing strikes deep into Russia

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It was also reported that over 100 people were wounded

US senator labels Biden’s approval for ATACMS strikes on Russia as unconstitutional

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Sergey Naryshkin observed that the military and political elites in the West are increasingly recognizing the gravity of Russia's intentions and the need for greater caution in their actions

UK police say no video evidence of Russians’ involvement in Salisbury case

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Elon Musk denies his impact on Trump’s decisions on nominates for cabinet positions

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Russian embassy warns UK about dangers of calling for Moscow’s ‘defeat’

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The journalist also criticized US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (a Republican representing the state of Louisiana) for "not even mentioning it in public or in leadership meetings" with factions in the lower house of Congress

Media from unfriendly states will be admitted to Putin's annual press conference — Kremlin

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Moscow won’t allow US to silence UNSC as Washington backs Israel — Russian UN envoy

According to Vasily Nebenzya, the Security Council should "bring peace, stability and prosperity to the Middle East"

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Xi Jinping calls for unification of more voices for peace in Ukraine

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Washington refrains from naming those responsible for Baltic Sea cable rupture — DoS

Two underwater cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea on November 17 and 18

Railroad development to strengthen ties with foreign partners — Russian PM

Mikhail Mishustin added that "it is necessary to modernize border crossings in coming years, including introduction of practice of electronic paperwork"

NATO enters conflict, Russia has every right to attack its targets now — expert

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Press review: Russian air defenses can down Western missiles as EU conducts live exercise

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Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh also declined a request to comment on the US permission to use ATACMS missiles for deep strikes on Russia

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Russia must be able to defend itself — Erdogan on revised nuclear doctrine

The Turkish leader reiterated that "both Russia and Ukraine are Turkey’s neighbors"

Belarusian security agency says Minsk aware of Poland’s efforts to prepare terrorist cells

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German defense minister says Ukraine reached parity in shells with Russia

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Biden’s actions increase likelihood of escalation in Ukraine — PM

Viktor Orban asserted that the government’s mission is to prevent Hungary from being dragged into the Ukrainian conflict

World Aquatics withdraws ban on participation of Russian athletes in relay races

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Bitcoin price exceeds $96,000, sets new historical record — Binance platform

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Russian army traps Ukrainian troops in Chasov Yar — intelligence center

The official reported that fighters from the 98th Airborne Division were engaged in fierce battles

Zelensky admits Ukraine can't fight its way back to 1991 borders

Vladimir Zelensky also talked about the Crimean Peninsula, stating that Kiev is ready to "bring Crimea back diplomatically"