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.