For today, a link to commentary from Middle East Monitor; other articles are accessible by clicking on its name below. (WEST BANK 8-4-25 is HERE, or scroll down.   GAZA, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Johnson’s visit to the illegal Ariel settlement will not make it legitimate, by Fareed Taamallah | Middle East Monitor  As a Palestinian on whose stolen land the settlement of Ariel was built, and who lives in a nearby village, I . . . READ MORE . . .

.

For today, links to four reports: from Middle East Eye, National Public Radio, and the Associated Press; and to three articles of commentary from Middle East Monitor, the Cradle, and Middle East Eye; other reports and commentary are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 8-8–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll.) — MCM

–   –   –

Gaza residents dread Israel’s occupation plan, by Mohammed al-Hajjar | Middle East Eye  GAZA CITY, occupied Palestine  Residents of Gaza have met Israel‘s occupation plan with a mix of fear, exhaustion and defiance. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

How the world is reacting to the Israeli government’s decision to escalate the war. Reported by Eleanor Beardsley and Scott Simon | NPR  Many fear the expansion of the war puts the remaining hostages at even greater risk. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

FROM AUG. 8  Israel says it will expand Gaza war, take main city. Reported by Aya Batrawy and Ailsa Chang | NPR  The move marks a major escalation in the nearly two-year-long war that’s already killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. Click HERE to listen and read, and HERE for report from AP.

–   –   –

FROM AUG. 8  Netanyahu’s Gaza gambit: A last stand or strategic folly? by Jasim Al-Azzawi | Middle East Monitor  As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushes forward with his plan to conquer the remaining 25 per cent of the Gaza Strip, the move . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM AUG. 8  Israel’s agent of chaos in Gaza, by William Van Wagenen | The Cradle  In late July, the Wall Street Journal published an op-ed attributed to Yasser Abu Shabab, a Palestinian warlord with a criminal past, portraying him and his militia as potential saviors of Gaza. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM AUG. 8  Former U.S. contractor for GHF says team leader not fit to oversee operation: report. From Middle East Eye.  Johnny “Taz” Mulford, a team leader for a U.S. contractor providing services to the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Fund, has been accused of being a member of an Islamophobic organisation, a Zeteo report said on Wednesday. READ MORE . . .

.

For now, links to reports from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (UKRAINE 8-8–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, GAZA and MEDIA entries for today, so far, are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

–   –   –

President Trump announces he’ll meet with Putin in Alaska next week. Reported by Franco Ordoñez and Danielle Kurtzleben | NPR  President Trump says he’ll meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in person to try to broker an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Zelenskyy rejects formally ceding Ukrainian territory, says Kyiv must be part of any negotiations, by Samya Kullab and Elise Morton | AP  KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today dismissed the planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that any peace deal excluding Kyiv would lead to “dead solutions.” READ MORE . . .   Click HERE and HERE for reports from AFP and Reuters.

–   –   –

Zelensky discusses ‘diplomatic solution’ in Ukraine with Macron. From AFP. President Volodymyr Zelensky said today he discussed the “diplomatic situation” in Ukraine with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, after Russia and the United States agreed to hold a summit without Kyiv. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

TO BE CONTINUED

For today, links to a report from National Public Radio and to the beginning of an article from Slate; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 8-8–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

–    –   –

FROM AUG. 8  We’ve all gotten those hiring scam texts. Instead of deleting, this writer played along. Reported by Ailsa Chang, Linah Mohammad and Christopher Intagliata | NPR  Alexander Sammon received a suspicious job recruitment text from someone who claimed to be a hiring manager. He decided to play along to see how far the scam would go, and wrote about it for Slate. Click HERE to listen and read, and HERE for beginning of Aug. 4 article from Slate.

.

For now, links to seven reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, Middle East Eye, and the Cradle; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 8-7–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  UKRAINE entry for today, so far, is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Israel plans to retake Gaza City, escalating the war with Hamas and fueling worries for hostages, by Wafaa Shurafa, Sam Metz, Samy Magdy and Joseph Krauss | AP  JERUSALEM — Israel said today it plans to take over Gaza City — in what would be an escalation of its 22-month war with Hamas that drew a dismissal from the militant group, renewed international calls to end the conflict, and . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters, NPR, Middle East Eye and the Cradle.

–   –   –

International leaders reject Israeli occupation of Gaza City. From the Cradle. Britain, Germany, Australia, Spain, China, Russia and Turkey have come out in condemnation of Israel’s plan for a full military occupation of Gaza City, which was announced by Tel Aviv overnight. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

A former State Department negotiator on the risks of Israel’s take over of Gaza. Steve Inskeep of NPR speaks with Aaron David Miller, a former State Department Middle East analyst and negotiator, about the risks that come with Israel’s decision to further occupy Gaza. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to five reports: from Tass, the Kyiv Independent, Kyiv Post, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 8-7-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA entry for today, so far, is HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

–   –   –

Putin-Trump meeting may take place on Aug. 11 — Fox News. From Tass.  NEW YORK / MOSCOW — A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and American leader Donald Trump may be held on Aug. 11, potentially in Rome, Fox News reported citing sources. A source told TASS Rome as a venue was out of the question. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

‘It’s up to him’ — Trump says ceasefire deadline depends on Putin, by Lucy Pakhnyuk and Tim Zadorozhnyy | The Kyiv Independent  U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday the ceasefire deadline he set for Russia — scheduled for today — Aug. 8 — now depends on Russian President Vladimir Putin. “We’re going to see . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

German technicians repair Ukrainian Patriot radar Raytheon called unfixable: report. From Kyiv Post. The major German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported on Thursday that the Patriot air defense system critically needed to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian ballistic missile strikes is back in action thanks to  . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ukrainian troops have little hope for peace as Trump’s deadline for Russia arrives, by Vasilisa Stepanenko | AP  DNIPROPETROVSK, Ukraine — Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield expressed little hope for a diplomatic solution to the war with Russia, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s Friday deadline for the Kremlin to make peace arrived and he . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ukrainians worry about being excluded from negotiations over ending the war. Reported by Greg Myre and A Martínez | NPR  President Trump says he is willing to meet with Vladimir Putin to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine, without requiring the Russian leader to also meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 8-6–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  LEBANON and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Netanyahu to seek approval for expanded Gaza military operations as 29 Palestinians are killed, by Melanie Lidman | AP  TEL AVIV — The Israeli security cabinet was set to meet this evening to discuss a possible expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, a move that — if it happens — would . . . READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from Reuters.

–   –   –

FROM AUG. 6  Hundreds of former Israeli military and security leaders urge Trump to end Gaza war. Reported by Lauren Hodges, Ailsa Chang and Christopher Intagliata | NPR  More than 500 former officials who once led Israel’s military and security agencies are asking President Trump to help stop the war in Gaza. Ailsa Chang of NPR speaks with one of them. Click HERE to listen and read, and HERE for related Aug. 5 report from NPR.

.

For today, a link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (LEBANON 7-31-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Israel pounds south Lebanon ahead of second cabinet meeting on Hezbollah arms. From the Cradle. Massive Israeli airstrikes targeted several areas in the south of Lebanon late today, with Tel Aviv claiming it attacked Hezbollah’s “attempts to restore terrorist infrastructure.” READ MORE . . .

.

For today, links to reports from Reuters, Kyiv Post, the Associated Press, the Moscow Times, National Public Radio, Tass, and the Kyiv Independent; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 8-6-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and LEBANON entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

–   –   –

NEWER  Kremlin says Putin and Trump will meet soon, Zelenskiy seeks European role in peace settlement, by Gleb Bryanski and Yuliia Dysa | Reuters  MOSCOW / KYIV  — Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump will meet in the coming days, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said today, in what would be the first summit between leaders of the two countries since 2021. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

–   –   –

Putin says he hopes to meet Trump as the White House presses for a peace deal on Ukraine, by Dasha Litvinova, Barry Hatton and Amelia Thomson-Deveaux | AP  Russian President Vladimir Putin said today he hopes to meet next week with U.S. President Donald Trump, possibly in the United Arab Emirates. The news came on the eve . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Moscow Times.

–   –   –

Trump may meet with Putin and Zelenskyy soon. Reported by Franco Ordoñez and A Martínez | NPR  President Trump says prospects look good for a meeting on ending the war in Ukraine with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But he’s been disappointed before. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

Putin not against meeting Zelensky, conditions should be created. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he is not against holding a meeting with Vladimir Zelensky but conditions should be created to do that. “I have reiterated,” he said . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ukrainian drone attack sparks fire at Krasnodar oil refinery. From the Moscow Times. An overnight Ukrainian drone strike sparked a fire at an oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region, local authorities said early today. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

.

For today, links to five reports: from Reuters, Middle East Monitor, the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, and Common Dreams; other reports and articles or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 8-5–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Terrible thirst hits Gaza with polluted aquifers and broken pipelines, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  GAZA / CAIRO — Weakened by hunger, many Gazans trek across a ruined landscape each day to haul all their drinking and washing water — a painful load that is still far below the levels needed to keep people healthy. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for April 22 report from Middle East Monitor.

–   –   –

FROM AUG. 5  Israel says Hamas is starving hostages; Security Council members say Israel is starving Palestinians, by Edith M. Lederer | AP  Israel called an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to demand the release of its emaciated hostages, including one seen digging his own grave. Their plight . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Jordan says Israeli settlers attacked Gaza-bound aid convoy. From Middle East Eye. Jordan said Israeli settlers attacked a Gaza-bound aid convoy today in the second such incident in days, accusing Israel of failing to act firmly to prevent repeated assaults. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM AUG. 5  The story behind one grim image of a mother and child in Gaza. Reported by Emily Feng and Anas Baba | NPR  A photo of a starving child in Gaza has gone viral, with many in Israel claiming it depicts false information. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

FROM JULY 31  Even Marjorie Taylor Greene is calling it a ‘genocide,’ by Lorraine Ali | Los Angeles Times  Skeletal babies. Starving families shot down while waiting in line for food. Images and video of . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JULY 24  No, Israel No, Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza, by Bret Stephens | The New York Times  It may seem harsh to say, but there is glaring dissonance to the charge . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM AUG. 5  The U.S. must understand: The story of the Gaza genocide did not begin on Oct. 7, by James Zogby | Common Dreams  Our understanding of an historical event’s meaning is a function of two factors — what we choose to identify as the starting point leading up to the event, and the lens through which we view it. READ MORE . . .

.