For today, links to 15 reports: from the Associated Press, the Cradle, Middle East Eye, Reuters, Antiwar.com via ScheerPost, National Public Radio, and Middle East Monitor; to a discussion via Consortium News; and to two articles of commentary: from the Flautist via CN, and from Indian Punchline; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 10-12-25 is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM
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The war is over: Trump declares ‘new dawn’ for West Asia from Israel’s Knesset. From the Cradle. U.S. President Donald Trump made a speech addressing Israel’s Knesset today, hailing the “dawn of a new Middle East” and the defeat of “enemies” following the release of Israeli captives from Gaza as part of his 20-point ceasefire plan. READ MORE . . .
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Hamas frees living hostages and Israel releases prisoners as Trump visits the region. From AP. Hamas released all 20 of the last living hostages today, the Israeli military said. It is part of a breakthrough ceasefire after two years of war between Israel and Hamas in the devastated Gaza Strip. Buses carrying dozens . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Cradle.
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Hamas and Israel swap prisoners as Trump declares war’s end, by Lubna Masarwa, Mohammed Nazzal and Huthifa Fayyad | Middle East Eye JERSUSALEM / RAMALLAH, occupied Palestine — Hamas and Israel exchanged prisoners today. The Palestinian movement released 20 living captives from Gaza to the International Red Cross starting starting at 8 a.m. local time. They were later transferred to Israel. Shortly after, Israeli authorities began . . . READ MORE . . .
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Israel’s Netanyahu won’t attend Egypt summit on ending Gaza war. From Reuters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend today’s summit on ending the Gaza war in Egypt, his office said, after Cairo had earlier announced he would take part. READ MORE . . .
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Israeli defense minister says IDF will destroy Gaza tunnels once Hamas releases Israeli captives, by Dave DeCamp | Antiwar.com / ScheerPost Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that the Israeli military would destroy tunnels in Gaza after the remaining Israeli captives are released by Hamas. “Israel’s great challenge after the phase of returning the hostages,” he said on X . . . READ MORE . . .
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Israel celebrates as Hamas releases final Israeli hostages. Reported by Daniel Estrin and A Martínezof NPR Hamas released all 20 of the living Israeli hostages on Monday. In turn, Israel will be releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees as part of the ceasefire agreement. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Full text of the agreement signed by Israel and Hamas to ‘end the war’ on Gaza. From Middle East Eye. Implementation Steps for President Trump’s Proposal for a “Comprehensive End of Gaza War.” Click HERE for introduction and full text of agreement.
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Former Israeli PM talks about the hostage release and Israel’s standing in the world. Michel Martin of NPR speaks with Ehud Olmert, the former prime minister of Israel, as he reflects on the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza and how the war has affected Israel’s standing in the world. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Yedioth Ahronoth: Netanyahu surrendered to Hamas, hid the truth. From Middle East Monitor. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth has revealed alarming details about the Gaza peace agreement, saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set key conditions but made major concessions and hid the truth from the public. According to the paper, the basic conditions . . . READ MORE . . .
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President Trump to address Israel’s parliament amid hostage exchange. Reported by Greg Myre and A Martínez | NPR Widely credited with sealing the deal on the ceasefire in Gaza, President Trump received the red carpet treatment when he arrived in Israel Monday. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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FROM OCT. 12 Aid trucks begin entering Gaza under ceasefire agreement. From Middle East Monitor. Trucks carrying humanitarian aid began to enter the Gaza Strip on Sunday under a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, local sources said. They told Anadolu that a number of aid trucks moved through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom border . . . READ MORE . . .
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The war devastated Gaza, destroying entire communities. What will it take to rebuild. Michel Martin of NPR asks Jack Lew, who was U.S. ambassador to Israel under President Biden, what needs to happen next for Gaza to start rebuilding after the war. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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FROM OCT. 12 Freedom promised for Israeli hostages, uncertainty about what’s next. Reported by Jane Arraf, Andrew Limbong and Jim Kane | NPR All living Israeli hostages are expected to be released Monday under the ceasefire brokered by President Trump. Palestinian families in Gaza return home to sift through what’s left. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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FROM OCT. 12 Waiting for the call: a hostage’s family prepares for his return. Reported by Erika Ryan, Ahmad Damen and Andrew Limbong | NPR Limbong talks to Moshe Lavi, brother-in-law of Omri Miran, who is an Israeli hostage held in Gaza. Miran is one of twenty living hostages expected to return to Israel. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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FROM OCT. 12 Israel-U.S. relationship under the microscope. Danny Haifong hosts ex-C.I.A. officer John Kiriakou, Consortium News editor Joe Lauria, and former U.S. Green Party vice-presidential candidate Ajamu Baraka to talk about “the C.I.A and the Mossad, the “ceasefire” in Gaza, the information war Israel is losing in the U.S. and the role technology is playing in it, the British Terrorism Act, the war in Ukraine and the general age of peril the world is living through.” Click HERE to watch and listen.
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FROM OCT. 9 Keep the champagne corked, by Patrick Lawrence | The Floutist / Consortium News I hope, for all of our sakes but especially for the sake of those children and their parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and all others who have suffered with them these past two years — well, these past 77 — that the accord going into effect as I write this holds. READ MORE . . .
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FROM OCT. 11 Neocons celebrate Donald Trump’s humiliation. Why it matters, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline The Nobel panel has once again placed politics over peace, true to its tradition. READ MORE . . .
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