First, a link to a report from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (MEDIA, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK 2-25-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 25  More than 40,000 Palestinians have been displaced in the West Bank in the last month. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf  | NPR  More than 40,000 Palestinians have been displaced in the past month in the West Bank due to the Israel’s prolonged military operation there. It’s the largest displacement in the West Bank in decades. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to a report from the Associated Press and to commentary from Declassified Australia via Consortium News; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names below. (MEDIA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down. GAZA 2-25-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 25  Israel and Hamas agree on new exchange, leaving fragile ceasefire intact, by Josef Federman and Abby Sewell | AP  JERUSALEM — Israeli and Hamas officials said Tuesday they have reached an agreement to exchange the bodies of dead hostages for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, keeping their fragile ceasefire intact for at least a few more days. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 18  The global spread of Palestine’s agony, by Antony Loewenstein | Declassified Australia / Consortium News  Palestine is an occupied land and people used as a testing ground for the most sophisticated forms of Israeli weapons and surveillance tech. The mass slaughter in Gaza after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel is just the latest example of the Israeli state and defence companies profiting from disaster. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to 10 reports, from Kyiv Post, the Associated Press, Reuters, the Kyiv Independent, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Consortium News; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (MEDIA, WEST BANK and GAZA entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up. UKRAINE 2-25-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Russia rules out ceasefire on contact lines, vows to capture 4 Ukrainian regions. From Kyiv Post. Moscow would not stop at the current contact lines in Ukraine and sought to capture the entirety of four Ukrainian regions it claimed to have annexed via illegal referendums, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

U.S. strikes a deal with Ukraine that includes access to its rare earth minerals, officials say, by Susie Blann, Hanna Arhirova and Vasilisa Stepanenko | AP  KYIV — Ukraine and the U.S. have reached an agreement on a framework for a broad economic deal that would include access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, three senior Ukrainian officials said today. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

–   –   –

Full text of the U.S.-Ukraine mineral deal. From the Kyiv Independent. Bilateral Agreement Establishing Terms and Conditions for a Reconstruction Investment Fund. “Whereas . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

At least 1 killed in Kyiv as Russia and Ukraine launch overnight drone attacks. From AFP. Russia and Ukraine launched dozens of drones at each other today in aerial attacks that left energy facilities damaged, one dead and at least four wounded in Ukraine, officials said. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russia hammers Ukrainian military airfields, UAV depots over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces struck Ukrainian military airfields and unmanned aerial vehicle depots over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russian and U.S. diplomats to meet in Istanbul on Thursday, Lavrov says. From AFP. Russian and U.S. diplomats will meet in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss outstanding issues related to their embassies, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Lavrov in Qatar speaks out on new U.S. talks, frozen Russian assets. From Tass. DOHA — Russia is waiting for Europeans to stop lying that Moscow is refusing to engage in talks on Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference in Qatar. He also said the issue of frozen Russian assets . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Zelensky unsure if Friday’s Washington visit goes ahead. From Kyiv Post. President Volodymyr Zelensky said today his purported trip to Washington to finalize a mineral agreement with the U.S. had not been certain. “We were offered a visit, yes,” he said. “But . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 25  3 thoughts on Trump’s foreign policy from an expert critical of U.S. intervention. Reported by Leila Fadel and Obed Manuel | NPR  One of them is whether President Trump is practicing good negotiation tactics concerning the Russia-Ukraine war. Bringing it to an end makes good sense, said Stephen Walt, professor of international relations at Harvard University, but . . . Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 25  Ukraine timeline tells the tale, by Joe Lauria | Special to Consortium News  Please use this short, historical guide to share with people who still flip through the funny pages trying to figure out what’s going on in Ukraine. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for commentary by Lauria for CN dated March 22, 2022.

–   –   –

MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to reports: from Middle East Monitor and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (IRAN, GAZA, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK 2-24-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

WHO ‘deeply concerned’ about West Bank violence, impact on healthcare. From Middle East Monitor. The World Health Organisation is “deeply concerned” about the Israeli occupation army’s offensive in the West Bank and the impact of “starkly rising” attacks on healthcare, its representative in the Palestinian territories said today. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 24  West Bank Palestinians fear Gaza-style clearance as Israel squeezes Jenin camp. From Reuters. JENIN, West Bank — Israeli bulldozers have demolished large areas of the now virtually empty Jenin refugee camp and appear to be carving wide roadways through its once-crowded warren of alleyways, echoing tactics already employed in Gaza as troops prepare for a long-term stay. READ MORE . . .

.

For today, links to reports from Middle East Monitor and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (WEST BANK, GAZA, SYRIA, and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE, or scroll up or down. IRAN 2-19-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Iran will not yield to U.S. ‘pressure and sanctions’ on nuclear dispute. From Middle East Monitor. Iran will not yield to pressure and sanctions imposed by Washington, the Islamic Republic’s top diplomat said today after meeting his Russian counterpart, days after Moscow held initial talks with the US just a month into Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, Reuters has reported. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 24  U.S. Treasury sanctions Iranian ‘shadow fleet’ under Trump’s maximum pressure scheme. From the Cradle. Washington imposed sanctions on Monday, targeting what it refers to as a “shadowy” fleet made up of companies, individuals, and vessels involved in transporting Iranian oil to circumvent unilateral U.S. sanctions. READ MORE . . .

.

For today, links to four reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, Middle East Monitor, and Middle East Eye, and to two articles of commentary from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (IRAN, WEST BANK, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down. GAZA 2-24-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Desperation grows in northern Gaza as Palestinians struggle to rebuild their homes, by Fatma Khaled and Abdel Kareem Hana | AP  BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip — Nearly 600,000 Palestinians flooded back into northern Gaza under the now month-old ceasefire in Gaza, according to the United Nations. They now face . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Israel looks to extend phase one of Gaza truce as long-term deal proves elusive, by James Mackenzie and Andrew Mills | Reuters  JERUSALEM / DOHA — Israel is considering an extension of the 42-day truce in Gaza as it seeks to bring home the remaining 63 hostages, while putting off agreement on the future of the enclave for now, Israeli officials said. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Hamas accuses New York Times of distorting Marzouk interview. From Middle East Monitor. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has said that the recent remarks attributed to the head of its international relations office, Mousa Abu Marzouk, were inaccurate and taken out of context, the Palestinian Information Centre has reported. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Middle East Eye.

–   –   –

Palestinians are being displaced by rhetoric and action, by Ramona Wadi | Middle East Monitor  Rejecting Israel’s forced displacement of Palestinians by rhetoric does not work. However, the Palestinian Authority and world leaders seem to convolute statements into purported displays of action, when the only action being taken is by Israel in its quest for ever more colonial expansion. For example . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Who will govern Gaza the day after the war? by Mahmoud Hassan | Middle East Monitor  The governance of the Gaza Strip on the day after the war remains a major concern for Tel Aviv, Washington and several Arab capitals, amid . . . READ MORE . . .

.

For today, link to five reports: from the Cradle, Middle East Eye, National Public Radio and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (IRAN, GAZA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down. SYRIA 2-24-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Sharaa calls for ‘state monopoly’ on weapons during Syrian dialogue conference. From the Cradle. Syria’s transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa called for the Syrian state’s “monopoly” on all weapons during a national dialogue conference today.  READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 24  Iraqi intel chief raises alarm about ISIS resurgence in Syria. From the Cradle. The head of Iraq’s National Intelligence Service, Hamid al-Shatri, stated on Monday that Baghdad sent direct messages to Damascus about security threats posed to Iraq by ISIS cells in the Syrian desert regions. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 24  Syrians protest over Netanyahu’s call for a demilitarised south, by Nader Durgham | Middle East Eye  Syrians have taken to the streets in southern Syria to protest over Israel’s expansion into the country and its prime minister’s statements that Syria’s armed forces cannot move south of the capital. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 24  Western sanctions are holding Syria back from rebuilding, locals say. Reported by Emily Feng and Jawad Rizkallah | NPR  Western countries have imposed layers of crippling sanctions on Syria for decades. Syrians say the sanctions are impeding any hope of rebuilding a country shattered by civil war. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 24  Syrians express hope and skepticism as national dialogue conference kicks off, by Ghaith Alsayed and Omar Albam | AP  DAMASCUS — A long-awaited national dialogue conference intended to help chart Syria’s political future after the fall of former President Bashar Assad kicked off Monday in Damascus. READ MORE . . .

.

For today, links to 10 reports: from the Kyiv Independent, Tass, the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, Kyiv Post, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (IRAN, GAZA, WEST BANK and SYRIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE or HERE or scroll up. UKRAINE 2-24-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

–   –   –

Russia’s Ryazan oil refinery in flames after drone strike, reports say, by Abbey Fenbert | The Kyiv Independent  A fire erupted at Russia’s Ryazan Oil Refinery after a drone strike overnight on Jan. 26, according to Russian media reports. The reported strike . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russian forces pound Ukrainian military airfields in precision strike. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces struck Ukrainian military airfields by precision weapons over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 24  U.S. refuses to blame Russia for Ukraine war, splitting with European allies in UN votes, by Edith M. Lederer | AP  UNITED NATIONS — In a dramatic shift in transatlantic relations under President Donald Trump, the United States split with its European allies by refusing to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in votes on three U.N. resolutions Monday . . .  Click HERE for article and videos, and HERE for report from Reuters.

–  –   –

Top Ukrainian official says Kyiv will refuse any ‘bad’ peace deal. Reported by Steve Inskeep | NPR  The divide between the United States and its European allies came into sharp focus on Monday, when the U.S  joined Russia in voting against a resolution at the U.N. General Assembly urging Moscow to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. Click HERE to read and, later, listen.

–   –   –

Putin welcomes U.S. mineral investments in occupied Ukraine. From Kyiv Post. Russian leader Vladimir Putin said Monday he is open to foreign investments – including those from the US – to develop mineral resources in Russia and occupied Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 24  Trump and Macron meet in Washington as Europe pleads for continued help with Ukraine. Reported by Franco Ordoñez | NPR  At a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump said their meeting on Monday was an important step toward reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and read, and HERE for report from Reuters.

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 24  World leaders are in Ukraine’s capital to mark 3 years since Russia launched its war. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR  As the U.S. turns away from Ukraine, more than a dozen leaders gather in Kyiv as Ukrainians mark three years since Russia’s invasion and ongoing war. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 24  UK unveils sweeping sanctions on Russia and its global backers. From AFP. The UK government on Monday announced more than 100 new sanctions targeting individuals and entities supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine. Described as . . . READ MORE . . .

.

For today, a link to reports from National Public Radio and Antiwar.com; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (SYRIA, LEBANON, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK 2-23-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release, while sending tanks to occupied West Bank. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf and Leila Fadel | NPR  Israel delayed a Palestinian prisoner release, accusing Hamas of “humiliating” hostages, while also sending tanks into the occupied West Bank for the first time in decades. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 20  Netanyahu orders West Bank escalation after empty buses explode in Israel, by Dave DeCamp | Antiwar.com / ScheerPost  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a massive escalation in the Israeli-occupied West Bank after three empty buses exploded in the Israeli city of Bat Yam near Tel Aviv, The Times of Israel reported on Thursday. READ MORE . . .

.

For today, links to four reports: from the Cradle and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK, LEBANON, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down. SYRIA 2-23-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

EU eases Syria sanctions in support of de facto government. From the Cradle. EU countries today suspended with immediate effect some of the sanctions the bloc imposed on Syria, including restrictions related to energy, banking, transport, and reconstruction. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Syria’s national dialogue conference set to kick off today. From AP. DAMASCUS — A long-awaited national dialogue conference intended to help chart Syria’s political future after the fall of former President Bashar Assad was set to begin today. The main session will be held on Tuesday, with . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Tribes of south Syria reject Netanyahu’s ‘aggressive’ call for ‘demilitarization.’ From the Cradle. Syrian tribes in southern Syria today announced their rejection of the “aggressive statements” made by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a day earlier demanding “demilitarization” of the region. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 23  Netanyahu declares ‘no Syrian forces’ to be allowed south of Damascus. From the Cradle. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded on Sunday the “complete demilitarization of southern Syria” and said Israel would not allow the new government to deploy its forces south of Damascus. READ MORE . . .

.