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

–   –   –

Hamas frees 8 more hostages as Gaza truce holds. Israel is set to release 110 prisoners, by Wafaa Shurafa, Mohammad Jahjouh and Joseph Krauss | AP  KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Hamas-led militants freed eight hostages on Thursday in the latest release since a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took hold earlier this month. Israel was expected to release another 110 Palestinian prisoners. Click HERE for report including photos and video, and HERE for report from Reuters.

–   –   –

Diplomat trying to end Gaza war warns an attack on U.S. forces could widen it. Reported by A Martínez and Eyder Peralta | NPR  The prime minister of Qatar is in Washington for talks with U.S. officials trying to iron out the framework of a deal to pause or end the war in Gaza, and get Israeli hostages released. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

Gaza checkpoint to be staffed by scores of armed American contractors. From Reuters. WASHINGTON — UG Solutions, a small U.S. security firm, is hiring nearly 100 U.S. special forces veterans to help run a checkpoint in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas truce, according to a company spokesperson and a recruitment e-mail, introducing armed American contractors into the heart of one of the world’s most . . . Click HERE for report including photos and video.

–   –   –

FROM JAN. 29  On Holocaust day, Palestinians have overcome Israel’s genocidal war and returned home, by David Hearst | Middle East Eye  As world statesmen gathered at Auschwitz, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who had endured 15 months of genocidal bombing, starvation and disease at the hands of a state born in the aftermath of the Holocaust marched for hours back into northern Gaza. READ MORE . . .