Morning Briefing: March 25, 2025

ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday with, including Israel conducting deadly attacks in Gaza, Russia-US talks on Ukraine war concluding after 12-hour meeting in Saudi Arabia, and Turkish President Erdogan stressing European security ‘not possible’ without Türkiye.

TOP STORIES

• Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza

Six Palestinians, including a child, were killed early Tuesday in attacks by the Israeli army on the Gaza Strip.

Israeli warplanes bombed a tent housing displaced Palestinians in the Hamad City residential area of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.

The attack came after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders for Palestinians in areas of northern Gaza in a move widely seen as a form of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians.

Earlier on Monday, at least 43 more Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, medical sources said.

A medical source said four people lost their lives when Israeli warplanes struck a family home in the southern city of Khan Younis.

• Russia-US talks on Ukraine war conclude after 12-hour meeting in Saudi Arabia

A Russia-US meeting in the Saudi capital Riyadh concluded after more than 12 hours of talks on Monday, according to media reports.

The meeting was the longest in a series of talks between the two countries that started on Feb. 18 with a meeting of Russia’s foreign minister and the US secretary of state.

The Russian and US delegations reportedly coordinated a joint statement set for release on Tuesday.

Prior to the meeting, Grigory Karasin, co-head of the Russian delegation, expressed hope that they would resolve "at least one issue," though he declined to name which.

• European security ‘not possible’ without Türkiye: President Erdogan

Expressing readiness to advance Ankara’s relations with European countries, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said Europe cannot ensure its security without Türkiye.

“The heated debates over past weeks have shown that European security without Türkiye will not be possible,” Erdogan said after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara.

"Europe’s need for our country has begun to be openly acknowledged, not only in terms of security but also in many areas, from the economy to diplomacy and from trade to social life," he added.

“Türkiye is ready to advance its relations with European countries and the EU in the framework of common interests and mutual respect,” he added.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday announced a reduction of the UN presence in Gaza, citing escalating Israeli violence and increased threats to humanitarian personnel, including an attack on a UN compound last week that killed a UN worker.
• US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that "nobody was texting war plans" after a report indicated that a journalist was inadvertently added to a sensitive messaging group.
• The Israeli army acknowledged on Monday evening that its forces had fired on a building belonging to the Red Cross in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
• Germany on Monday strongly criticized Israel's defense minister for threatening the “total devastation” of Gaza as renewed bombing of Palestinian civilians continued.
• Qatar’s Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned Israel’s policies of displacing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and expanding settlements.
• Yemen’s Houthi group said late Monday that several people were injured following eight US airstrikes targeting the outskirts of the northern city of Saada.
• Israel ordered a new forced displacement of Palestinians from Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday.
• The Israeli army arrested a Palestinian from the West Bank late Monday who was involved in producing a documentary that won an Oscar earlier this month, according to local sources.
• The heads of state of the Southern African Development Community and the East African Community blocs resolved Monday to “expedite the peace process” in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo by appointing an expanded panel of five facilitators.
• Five Palestinians were injured, and several others arrested during attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian communities in the southern West Bank on Monday evening, including Hebron and Bethlehem.
• Denmark expressed its reservations over the timing of the informal US delegation visit to Greenland, calling it "problematic" and "disrespectful," according to state news media outlet DR on Monday.

SPORTS

• Türkiye, Greece promoted to UEFA Nations League A after dramatic playoff wins

Türkiye and Greece have been promoted to the UEFA Nations League top division after thrilling playoff matches.

Türkiye dominated Hungary with a commanding 3-0 win in Sunday’s second leg at Budapest’s Puskas Arena, following up their 3-1 victory in the first match to clinch promotion to League A.

Greece pulled off a stunning turnaround against Scotland, bouncing back from a 1-0 first-leg defeat with a 3-0 win at Hampden Park to earn promotion.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Samsung Electronics co-CEO passes away at 63

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics co-chief executive officer Han Jong-Hee died at the age of 63, local media reported Tuesday.

Han died from cardiac arrest while receiving treatment at a hospital, a company spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Born in 1962, Han was named vice chairman and co-CEO of Samsung Electronics in 2022.

• Trump signs executive order imposing tariffs on countries importing Venezuelan oil

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday imposing tariffs on countries importing Venezuelan oil.

According to the order, from April 2, a tariff of 25% may be imposed on all goods imported into the US from any country that imports Venezuelan oil, whether directly from Venezuela or indirectly through third parties.

The order said the actions and policies of "the regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat" to the national security and foreign policy of the US.