For today, links to three reports: from the Anadolu Agency, Reuters, and Middle East Eye, and to commentary from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA, LEBANON, IRAN and UKRAINE entries are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli army escalates 4th day of offensives in occupied West Bank, by Qais Abu Samra | Anadolu Agency  RAMALLAH, Palestine  The Israeli military intensified its offensive in the city of Jenin and the adjacent refugee camp today, marking the fourth consecutive day of attacks on Palestinians in the northern occupied West Bank. READ MORE . . .

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West Bank violence imperils Gaza ceasefire, UN human rights office warns. From Reuters. LONDON — Israeli operations in the West Bank have killed at least 12 Palestinians since Tuesday and could threaten the newly agreed ceasefire in Gaza, United Nations Human Rights office spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said today. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli raid forced 1,800 Palestinians out of Jenin: Haaretz. From Middle East Eye. The Israeli raid in Jenin has forced 1,800 Palestinian residents to leave the Jenin refugee camp through crossings put in place by the Israeli army since the army began its operation in the area, according to a report by Haaretz. READ MORE . . .

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In the West Bank, Trump is giving Netanyahu a free hand to blow up the region, by David Hearst | Middle East Eye  Anyone who imagined that U.S. President Donald Trump would be the Stop the War president the Middle East had been waiting for, should have a look at what is currently underway in the Occupied West Bank. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to four reports: from Middle East Monitor, Reuters, the Anadolu Agency, and the Associated Press and to commentary from Indian Puchline; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON, WEST BANK, IRAN and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Hamas releases names of 4 captives to be released from Gaza on Saturday. From Middle East Monitor. Hamas today released the names of four Israeli captives —  Karina Ariev, Liri Albag, Naama Levy and Guy Gilboa-Dalal — it is due to release on Saturday under the terms of the ceasefire deal. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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FROM JAN. 23  Israel kills 2 Palestinians in Gaza despite ceasefire, by Hosni Nedim | Anadolu Agency  GAZA CITY, Palestine  Two Palestinians were killed and others injured on Thursday in Israeli attacks in the southern and central Gaza Strip despite a ceasefire agreement. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 23  How the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal will unfold — and why it is so precarious, by Lee Keath, Samy Magdy and Abby Sewell | AP  CAIRO — Israeli troops have pulled back to the edges of Gaza, the first hostages have been released, and many Palestinians have returned to what remains of their homes. If the ceasefire deal goes according to plan . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 19  Trump bends the arc of history in West Asia, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  Trump’s choice of Steve Witkoff, a Jew and an unknown political newcomer, as his special envoy for West Asia, went relatively unnoticed. Witkoff is a self-made billionaire (son of a maker of ladies’ coats in New York City) with no previous experience in . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for Part 1, posted on Jan. 17.

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

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Russia-Iran treaty signifies a ‘breakthrough’ in ties, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  The signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Iran and Russia on Jan. 17 in Moscow is a poignant landmark signifying the mutual acceptance as partners in an equal relationship. It is also . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 17  Trump bends the arc of history in West Asia, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  In a one-week visit to Tehran to observe the presidential election last June I could sense beyond doubt that Iran was on the cusp of profound changes. The country, which I had known professionally ever since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, was heaving with high expectations of a radical change of course. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for Part 2, posted on Jan. 19.

For today, links to 10 reports: from Reuters, the Moscow Times, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Tass, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and the Anadolu Agency, and to commentary from Substack; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA, LEBANON, WEST BANK and IRAN entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM   

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Russia says it repelled massive Ukrainian drone attack on 13 regions including Moscow, by Andrew Osborn and Ronald Popeski | Reuters  Russian air defences repelled a massive Ukrainian drone attack overnight, intercepting and destroying 121 drones targeting 13 regions, including Moscow, Russia’s Defence Ministry said today. READ MORE . . .

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Major Russian microchip factory halts production after Ukrainian drone strikes. From the Moscow Times. The Kremniy El microchip plant in Russia’s western Bryansk region halted production following one of the largest overnight Ukrainian drone strikes on the country since the start of the war, local authorities and media reported today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

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Putin ready to talk to Trump, Kremlin ‘awaits signals’ from U.S., by Kateryna Hodunova | The Kyiv Independent  Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said today during a press briefing. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Tass.

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Kremlin scoffs at Trump’s claim that a drop in oil prices will help end Ukraine conflict. From AP. MOSCOW — The Kremlin insisted today that a settlement in Ukraine couldn’t be facilitated by a drop in global oil prices as U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested. READ MORE . . .

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Putin calls Trump ‘smart,’ warns on oil price threat. From AFP. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday praised Donald Trump as “pragmatic” and “smart”, saying he did not believe the U.S. president would force global oil prices lower in a bid to damage Moscow. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 23  Trump says Russia’s war in Ukraine ‘will end immediately’ if OPEC lowers oil prices. From the Kyiv Independent. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he will ask the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to lower the price of oil, saying it would end Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine “immediately.” READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Anadolu Agency.

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FROM JAN. 23  Ukraine ‘fully’ backs Trump efforts to lower oil price. From AFP. Ukraine on Thursday said that it “fully” supports Donald Trump’s efforts to lower the cost of oil, after the U.S. president suggested Russia’s war would end “immediately” if prices fell. READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops liberate nine communities in Donbass region, Kharkov area over week. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated nine communities in the Donbass area and the Kharkov Region over the week of Jan. 18-24 in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Friday in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 23  Will Trump side with the hardliners on Russia? by Seymour M. Hersh | Substack  At this early point, there seem to be many competing interests among Trump’s close foreign policy advisers how and when to end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. During his campaign, Trump repeatedly . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to six reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, and the Anadolu Agency, and to commentary from Media North via AntiWar.com and ScheerPost; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (WEST BANK, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Palestinians confront a landscape of destruction in Gaza’s ‘ghost towns,’ by Abdul Kareem Hana and Tia Goldenberg | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinians in Gaza are confronting an apocalyptic landscape of devastation after a ceasefire paused more than 15 months of fighting between Israel and Hamas. Across the tiny coastal enclave . . . Click HERE for report with photos.

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Gazans ready tent camps for families returning to north after ceasefire, by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Mahmoud Issa and Dawoud Abu Alkas | Reuters  CAIRO — Palestinians in northern Gaza prepared tent encampments for displaced families today, two days before they were expected to return to their homes in accordance with the timeline of a ceasefire deal agreed between Israel and Hamas. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 22  Israel said it wouldn’t let Hamas rule Gaza. The ceasefire is here and Hamas remains. Reported by Greg Myre | NPR  Israel said repeatedly that it wouldn’t allow Hamas to run Gaza in the future. Yet Hamas remains the strongest force in Gaza and Israel has never offered a plausible alternative. Click HERE to listen and read, and HERE for Jan. 21 report from AP.

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FROM JAN. 22  Trump envoy says he’ll go to Gaza to monitor ceasefire. From Reuters. WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy said on Wednesday he would travel to the region to be part of what he described as an inspection team deployed in and along the Gaza Strip to ensure ceasefire compliance. READ MORE . . .

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Vatican releases footage of Pope holding video call with Catholic parish in Gaza, by Ahmet Gencturk | Anadolu Agency  ATHENS — Pope Francis made a video call Wednesday night to the Holy Family Parish in Gaza, continuing a nightly ritual to stay connected with the community amid the ongoing conflict, Vatican News reported. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 10  How U.S. media hide truths about the Gaza War, by Norman Solomon | Media North / AntiWar.com  Key aspects of how the U.S. establishment has narrated the “war on terror” for more than two decades were standard in American media and politics from the beginning of the Gaza war in October 2023. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to two reports: from Middle East Eye and the Anadolu Agency; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli forces set fire to homes in besieged Jenin: Wafa. From Middle East Eye. Israeli forces raiding Jenin in the occupied West Bank have set homes in the area ablaze, the Wafa news agency reported. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Anadolu Agency.

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TO BE CONTINUED

For today, links to five reports: from Agence France-Presse, Reuters, Kyiv Post, AntiWar.com, and National Public Radio — the NPR one a year old; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA, WEST BANK and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM   

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Moscow remains ‘ready’ for dialogue despite Trump threats, Kremlin says. From AFP. The Kremlin today dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest remarks on the Ukraine war as lacking anything new but emphasized Moscow’s readiness for “mutually respectful” dialogue with Washington. Trump on Wednesday warned . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters and Kyiv Post.

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FROM JAN. 22  A Ukrainian victory was never Biden’s goal: Time Magazine, by Dave DeCamp | AntiWar.com / ScheerPost President Biden spent hundreds of billions of dollars supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia, but according to a report from Time Magazine, a Ukrainian victory was never his goal. READ MORE . . . Click on the link two lines above for Time article.

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FROM JAN. 22, 2024  Why the war in Ukraine is bad for climate science. Reported by Rebecca Hersher | NPR  The Arctic is warming up to four times faster than the Earth as a whole. And Russia has more Arctic land than any other nation. But, since Russia invaded Ukraine, it’s . . . Click HERE to read more and listen.

For today, links to reports from Consortium News and the Society of Rock, and to four articles of commentary: from Anti-War.com, ScheerPost, the New York Times, and Media North; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE.)— MCM

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FROM JAN. 21  Trump issues order to end censorship, by Joe Lauria | Special to Consortium News  President Donald Trump in his inaugural speech vowed to end online censorship by government using social media companies as proxies. Later on Monday he signed the executive order, “Restoring Free Speech and Ending Federal Censorship.” READ MORE . . .

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FROM DEC. 6, 2024  10 famous songs banned for unexpected reasons. From the Society of Rock. Cancel culture seems everywhere, sparking debates about what should or shouldn’t be silenced. But banning things isn’t new. Even music . . . Click HERE to read and listen.

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FROM JAN. 22  A Ukrainian victory was never Biden’s goal: Time Magazine, by Dave DeCamp | AntiWar.com / ScheerPost President Biden spent hundreds of billions of dollars supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia, but according to a report from Time Magazine, a Ukrainian victory was never his goal. READ MORE . . . Click on the link two lines above for Time article.

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FROM JAN. 20  Exeunt, the man from Scranton, by Patrick Lawrence | Original to ScheerPost  David Brooks, the conservative New York Times columnist, wrote a notable piece the other day under the headline, “We deserve Pete Hegeseth.” He was remarking on the confirmation hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee of President-elect Trump’s nominee for defense secretary. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for Brooks column for the New York Times.

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FROM JAN. 10  How U.S. media hide truths about the Gaza War, by Norman Solomon | Media North / AntiWar.com  Key aspects of how the U.S. establishment has narrated the “war on terror” for more than two decades were standard in American media and politics from the beginning of the Gaza war in October 2023. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to four reports: from Middle East Monitor, the Associated Press, Reuters, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK, LEBANON, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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U.S. President Trump ‘not confident’ Gaza ceasefire will last. From Middle East Monitor. The United States’ newly-elected President, Donald Trump, has expressed doubts over chances that the ceasefire in Gaza will last, only days after it came into effect. READ MORE . . .

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Israel says it will maintain control of Gaza-Egypt crossing. From AP. Israel said today it will maintain control of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip during the first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas. READ MORE . . .

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Bereaved Gazans dig out bodies from city ruins, give them graves, by Nidal al-Mughrabi and Dawoud Abu Alkas | Reuters  CAIRO / GAZA  Guns may have fallen silent in Gaza, but  . . . READ MORE . . .

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What impact will Trump have on the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas? Reported by Leila Fadel | NPR  Former Palestinian peace talks adviser and human rights lawyer Diana Buttu talks about the the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and what Trump’s election will mean for U.S. involvement in agreement.. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For today, links to six reports: from the Cradle, Middle East Eye, National Public Radio, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (WEST BANK 1-21-25 entry is HERE. GAZA, LEBANON, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli forces ravage infrastructure in Jenin as deadly operation enters second day. From the Cradle. Israel’s deadly operation in the occupied West Bank’s Jenin has entered its second day, as troops continue to tear up infrastructure and reinforce their presence across the city and its battered refugee camp. Videos shared . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israeli army and Palestinian Authority besiege and raid Jenin hospitals, by Fayha Shalash | Middle East Eye  RAMALLAH, occupied Palestine  Israeli forces have continued besieging and attacking two Jenin hospitals for a second consecutive day since the launch of a major assault on the northern occupied West Bank city, as PalestinianAuthority forces stormed a third hospital. READ MORE . . .

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Israel begins military operations focused on Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf and Steve Inskeep | NPR  Israel has begun a military operation in the occupied West Bank focused on the city of Jenin. Palestinians there worry the focus of the conflict is shifting over to them following a ceasefire in Gaza. Click HERE later to listen and, still later, read.

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Trump nominee for UN ambassador says Jews have ‘biblical right’ to occupied West Bank. From the Cradle. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, recently nominated by President Donald Trump for the position of U.S. ambassador to the UN, said that she supports the claims made by the far right in Israel that Jews have the “biblical right” to take land from Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. READ MORE . . .

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Suspected settlers attacked Palestinian villages hours before Trump rescinded Biden sanctions, by Aref Tufaha and Tia Goldenberg | AP  JINSAFUT, West Bank — Suspected Jewish settlers stormed Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank late Monday, setting cars and property ablaze, shortly before U.S. President Donald Trump canceled sanctions against Israelis accused of violence in the territory. The reversal . . . READ MORE . . .

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What impact will Trump have on the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas? Reported by Leila Fadel | NPR  Former Palestinian peace talks adviser and human rights lawyer Diana Buttu talks about the the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and what Trump’s election will mean for U.S. involvement in agreement.. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.