Links to three reports: from the Associated Press, the Cradle, and Reuters; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for GAZA 1-29-26, and up or down for IRAN, UKRAINE, VENEZUELA, and MEDIA.) — MCM

–   –   –

Israel reopening Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt on Sunday after long closure, by Sam Metz | AP  JERUSALEM — Israel said today it will reopen the pedestrian border crossing between the Gaza Stripand Egypt in both directions over the weekend, marking an important step forward for U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

–   –   –

Trump declares Hamas ‘will disarm’ as resistance says it never agreed. From the Cradle. U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday repeated his claim that Hamas will surrender its weapons as part of the Gaza ceasefire, one day after an official from the resistance movement said the group never agreed to such a thing. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Early warning of ‘Apocalyptic Wasteland’ in Gaza blocked by U.S. envoys to Israel, by Erin Banco, Jonathan Landay and Humeyra Pamuk | Reuters  WASHINGTON — U.S. Agency for International Development staffers in early 2024 drafted a warning to senior officials in Joe Biden’s administration: Northern Gaza had turned into an “Apocalyptic Wasteland” with dire shortages of food and medical aid. READ MORE . . .

.