For today, links to 10 reports: from the Anadolu Agency, Reuters, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and Middle East Monitor, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor in the form of split-screen video; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE. GAZA 2-5-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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Israel withdraws from UN Human Rights Council, following U.S. lead, by Zein Khalil | Anadolu Agency  JERUSALEM — Israel announced Wednesday that it is withdrawing from the United Nations Human Rights Council following a decision by the US to no longer participate in the body. READ MORE . . .

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Trump insists on taking over Gaza, claiming Israel will hand over once fighting ends, by Efe Ozkan | Anadolu Agency  ISTANBUL — U.S. President Donald Trump said today that the Gaza Strip would be handed over to the U.S. by Israel at the end of the fighting and that “no soldiers by the U.S. would be needed.” READ MORE . . .

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Israel orders army to prepare for ‘voluntary departure’ of Gazans after Trump unveils plan, by James Mackenzie and Jana Choukeir | Reuters  JERUSALEM — Israel’s defence minister today ordered the army to prepare a plan to allow the “voluntary departure” of residents from Gaza, after U.S. President Donald Trump drew widespread condemnation for announcing plans to take over the strip. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from AP, NPR and Middle East Monitor.

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Trump’s Gaza plan has stunned the region. Here’s a look at the serious obstacles it faces, by Joseph Krauss | AP  President Donald Trump’s stunning proposal to forcibly transfer hundreds of thousands of Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip and develop it as a tourist destination faces major obstacles. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Middle East Eye.

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Legal scholar David Scheffer discusses Trump’s plan to take ownership of Gaza. Steve Inskeep of NPR speaks with legal scholar David Scheffer, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, about President Trump’s proposal for the U.S. to take ownership of Gaza. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Gaza girl to Trump: Would you leave your home, country? From Middle East Monitor. Maria Hannoun, a survivor of Israel’s genocide on Gaza, sends a message to U.S. President Donald Trump and asks him . . . Click HERE to read, watch and listen.

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Gazans rebuild while Trump makes plans to erase them. From Middle East Monitor. U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech setting out his vision to take over Gaza, displacing Palestinians to elsewhere, is juxtaposed with video of residents who have returned to the enclave clearing out the rubble to rebuild their lives there. Click HERE to read, watch and listen.

For today, links to a report from National Public Radio, and to an article of commentary from Time magazine; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA and WEST BANK entries for this date are HERE and HERE. UKRAINE 2-4-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM   

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FROM FEB. 5  Former Zelenskyy press secretary makes the case for ceasefire. Reported by Kathryn Fink, Mary Louise Kelly and Justine Kenin | NPR  Iuliia Mendel, Ukrainian journalist and former press secretary for President Zelenskyy, talks about her recent op-ed in Time magazine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read, and HERE for the article in Time.

First, a link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA, WEST BANK, SYRIA, and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE. IRAN 2-4-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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Trump dismisses talk of U.S.–Israeli attacks on Iran. From the Cradle. U.S. President Donald Trump has denied that Washington and Tel Aviv are planning military attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran. “I want Iran to be a great and successful Country,” he said early today on his social media platform Truth Social, “but one that . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to nine reports: from X via Middle East Monitor, Consortium News via ScheerPost, National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Reuters, the Anadolu Agency, and Middle East Eye, and to written and visual commentary from ScheerPost; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK, SYRIA, IRAN and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.) — MCM

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Egyptian machinery enters Gaza to help clear the rubble. From X / Middle East Monitor. Egyptian engineering machinery was seen crossing the Rafah Border into Gaza Tuesday to assist in clearing rubble. This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to describe Gaza as a ‘demolition site’ and . . . Click HERE to read and then click to view a brief video clip from X.

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Trump wants U.S. to take over & ethnically cleanse Gaza, by Joe Lauria | Consortium News / ScheerPost  U.S. President Donald Trump says the United States should become party to a major crime against humanity by expelling 1.8 million people from their land in the Gaza Strip as it becomes . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from NPR.

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Trump’s suggestion the U.S. ‘take over’ the Gaza Strip is rejected by allies and adversaries alike, by David Rising and Jon Gambrell | AP  DUBAI — President Donald Trump’s proposal that the United States “take over” the Gaza Strip and permanently resettle its Palestinian residents was swiftly rejected and denounced today by American allies and adversaries alike. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for two reports from Reuters.

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Our people in Gaza will not allow Trump’s relocation plans to pass: Hamas, by Ahmed Asmar | Anadolu Agency  ANKARA — Palestinian Hamas group said today the Palestinian people will not allow U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans to expel Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to go forward. READ MORE . . .

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Trump floats idea for U.S. to take ownership of the Gaza Strip and redevelop it. Steve Inskeep of NPR talks with Yousef Munayyer of the Arab Center in Washington for his perspective about President Trump’s idea for the Gaza Strip. Click HERE to listen and, later read.

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IRC: Suffering in Gaza ‘beyond imagination.’ From Middle East Eye. The International Rescue Committee has warned that the suffering of people in Gaza “is beyond imagination,” with icy temperatures and lack of heating and winter clothing putting children at risk of . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 2  The Western way of genocide, by Chris Hedges | Original to ScheerPost with illustration by Mr. Fish  Gaza is a wasteland of 50 million tons of rubble and debris. There is no clean water. Little food. A severe . . . Click HERE to read and view.

For today, links to reports from the Cradle and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA, SYRIA, IRAN and UKRAINE entries are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. WEST BANK 2-4-23 and WEST BANK 2-3-25 entries are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM FEB. 4  Lone resistance fighter storms Israeli army post in West Bank, shooting several soldiers. From the Cradle. A lone resistance fighter infiltrated the Israeli military post near a checkpoint in the village of Tayasir at around 6 a.m. on Monday and began opening fire at troops before being killed. The fighter . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israeli forces detain 30 Palestinians in West Bank raids. From Middle East Eye. Israeli forces have arrested at least 30 Palestinians, including a child and former detainees, during ongoing raids across the occupied West Bank, as reported by the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society and the Prisoners’ Affairs Authority. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to three reports: from NBC News and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA, WEST BANK, IRAN and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, IRAN and HERE. SYRIA 2-4-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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Defense Department drafting plans to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria after recent Trump comments, by Courtney Kube | NBC News  The Defense Department is developing plans to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria, two U.S. defense officials said on Tuesday. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Cradle.

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FROM FEB. 4  Erdogan hosts Syria’s de facto president, offers ‘support to rebuild.’ From the Cradle. Speaking alongside de facto Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Ankara on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to 12 reports: from the Associated Press, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Reuters, the Moscow Times, Tass, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA, WEST BANK, SYRIA and IRAN entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. UKRAINE 2-3-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM   

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Ukraine wants partner countries to join in postwar development worth billions, by Illia Novakov | AP  KYIV — Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said today the country wants to collaborate with partner countries on postwar projects worth billions of dollars not just in mining rare earth elements, but also . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky: ‘A good day’ as 150 soldiers freed from Russian captivity. From Kyiv Post. Ukraine has secured the return of 150 soldiers from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced today. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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Ukraine’s military to roll out units of robotic vehicles, by Max Hunder | Reuters  KYIV — Ukraine’s military will create robotic vehicle units to deploy at the front, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said today, as Kyiv and Moscow vie to gain a technological . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kremlin confirms contacts with Trump White House officials. From the Moscow Times. “There are indeed contacts between certain agencies, and they have intensified recently,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 4  5 killed, 55 injured in Russian missile strike on Izium in Kharkiv Oblast, by Martin Fornuse | The Kyiv Independent  A Russian missile attack on Tuesday against the town of Izium in Kharkiv Oblast killed at least five people and injured at least 55, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Kharkov Region, Donbass area over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated two communities in the Kharkov Region and the Donbass area over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 4  Ukraine hits school bus with drone in Zaporozhye Region. From Tass. MELITOPOL — The Ukrainian armed forces attacked a school bus in the Zaporozhye Region with an unmanned aerial vehicle, according to the region’s governor, Yevgeny Balitsky. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 4  Ukraine’s politics warms up as U.S. focuses on war’s endgame, by Tom Balmforth and Yuliia Dysa | Reuters  KYIV – After Russia’s 2022 invasion, Ukraine’s normally febrile political life was becalmed under martial law. But there have been growing signs of activity picking up. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB.  4  Russian attacks near Ukrainian nuclear infrastructure heighten scrutiny of Kyiv’s preparedness, by Samya Kullab and Hanna Arhirova | AP  KYIV — Moscow’s renewed attacks on Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure this winter . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 4  Ukraine sees surge in inquiries from Russian families on missing soldiers. From AFP. Ukraine received a surge in queries last month from Russian families seeking information on missing relatives serving in Moscow’s army, Kyiv said on Tuesday. The government last year established a hotline for Russians to learn details of . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 4  Ukraine’s rare earth minerals: What Is Trump eyeing in Ukraine? From Kyiv Post. “They have great rare earth,” U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday. “And I want security of the rare earth, and they’re willing to do it.” He said he might supply aid to Ukraine in exchange for . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to six reports: from the Associated Press, the Cradle, Common Dreams, National Public Radio, and Reuters, and to commentary from Indian Punchline and Middle East Eye; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK, LEBANON, SYRIA and IRAN entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.) — MCM

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Trump warns ‘no guarantees’ fragile Gaza truce will hold as Netanyahu heads to DC for talks, by Aamer Madhani and Tia Goldenberg | AP   WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu were set to meet today as the Israeli prime minister faces competing pressure from his right-wing coalition to end a temporary truce against Hamas militants in Gaza and from war-weary Israelis who . . . READ MORE . . .

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Trump approves $1 billion in new bombs, armored bulldozers for Israel. From the Cradle. U.S. President Donald Trump has asked Congress to approve transferring $1 billion worth of additional bombs and other military equipment to Israel, The Wall Street Journal reported today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 3  Official Gaza death toll soars to 62,000, by Julia Conley | Common Dreams / Consortium News  Authorities in Gaza and human rights advocates have warned for months that because of the devastation of the enclave’s healthcare system and civil services, the official death toll was likely a significant undercount — and on Monday, officials said . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 3  Trump has a deal for Netanyahu when they meet Tuesday. Will he take it? Reported by Daniel Estrin  | NPR TEL AVIV — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s White House visit Tuesday will be rife with symbolism: He’s the first world leader to meet President Trump since the inauguration two weeks ago. It will also be a crucial day for the future of the Middle East — and Netanyahu himself. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Palestinian statehood ‘key to resolve all issues’ in West Asia: Lavrov. From the Cradle. “The two-state solution has the support of all external powers,”  including the Biden administration, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a conference in Moscow. “The Trump administration has not yet . . . READ MORE . . .

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A Gaza family’s journey home to the ruins, by Ramadan Abed and Dawoud Abu Alkas | Reuters  The family of Ismael Mohammed had learned from relatives that their home had been destroyed in an air strike, but they had been ready to return as soon as the ceasefire was agreed. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 3  Trump turn is bad news for West Asia, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  On Tuesday the international community will get to see President Donald Trump wading into the midstream of West Asia’s crisis, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu enters the Oval Office hoping for an opportunity to shape U.S. regional policy. Do you get déjà vu? . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 3  Gaza is a Palestinian homeland, not Trump’s luxury resort, by Soumaya Ghannoushi | Middle East Eye  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already set in motion the outcome U.S. President Donald Trump wants. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to four reports: from Reuters and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA, LEBANON, SYRIA and IRAN entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli military operation turns Jenin refugee camp into ‘ghost town.’ From Reuters. JENIN — Two weeks after the Israeli military operation began, Jenin is largely deserted, with thousands of Palestinians having left their homes, taking only what they could carry. After destroying roadways and other infrastructure, Israeli forces . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 3  West Bank witnesses ‘replication of Gaza’ as Israel displaces thousands. From the Cradle. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said on Tuesday it is facilitating mass evacuations of civilians from the Jenin and Tulkarem refugee camps in the occupied West Bank, as . . . READ MORE . . .

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Trump approves $1 billion in new bombs, armored bulldozers for Israel. From the Cradle. U.S. President Donald Trump has asked Congress to approve transferring $1 billion worth of additional bombs and other military equipment to Israel, The Wall Street Journal reported today. READ MORE . . .

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Palestinian statehood ‘key to resolve all issues’ in West Asia: Lavrov. From the Cradle. “The two-state solution has the support of all external powers,”  including the Biden administration, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a conference in Moscow. “The Trump administration has not yet . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, a link to commentary from Indian Punchline; other articles are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA, WEST BANK, SYRIA and IRAN entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM FEB. 3  Trump turn is bad news for West Asia, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  On Tuesday the international community will get to see President Donald Trump wading into the midstream of West Asia’s crisis, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu enters the Oval Office hoping for an opportunity to shape U.S. regional policy. Do you get déjà vu? . . . READ MORE . . .