For today, links to 12 reports: from Agence France-Press, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Anadolu Ajansi, Drop-Site News, Middle East Eye, the Cradle, and Reuters, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor, Middle East Eye, and the Cradle; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names and initials below. (GAZA 10-3-25 is HERE, or scroll down. SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for today are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM
– – –
NEWER Hamas, Israel to hold indirect Gaza hostage talks in Cairo: state-linked media. From AFP. Hamas and Israel will engage in indirect talks in Cairo on Sunday and Monday to secure the release of hostages and detainees, Egyptian state-linked media reported today. READ MORE . . .
– – –
Israel’s army says it will advance preparations for the first phase of Trump’s plan, by Sam Mednick and Samy Magdy | AP TEL AVIV — Israel’s army said today it would advance preparations for the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza and return all the remaining hostages, saying it was instructed . . . Click HERE to read more in English and HERE for report in Spanish. Click HERE for report from NPR.
– – –
Hamas announces approval to release all Israeli captives under Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan, by Rania Abu Shamala | Anadolu Ajansi ISTANBUL — Hamas announced on Friday evening that it approved the release of all Israeli captives, the delivery of deceased bodies, and the handover of Gaza’s administration to an independent Palestinian body in its response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan for Gaza. The Palestinian group said “other issues . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for Oct. 3 report from Drop-Site News, which includes video of discussion of events.
– – –
At least 29 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since dawn. From Middle East Eye. At least 29 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire and bombardment across the Gaza Strip since dawn today, according to medical sources cited by Wafa news agency. READ MORE . . .
– – –
Israeli bombing of Gaza City has ‘significantly subsided,’ hospital official says, by Sam Mednick and Samy Magdy | AP TEL AVIV — Israeli bombing of Gaza City has “significantly subsided” though at least five Palestinians were killed, a hospital official said today, as Israel’s army said the country’s leaders had instructed it to prepare for the first phase of the U.S. plan to end the war in Gaza. Click HERE to continue reading in English, and HERE for report in Spanish.
– – –
Israel continues bombing Gaza despite Trump’s orders to ‘immediately stop.’ From the Cradle. Israel continued its relentless bombing of Gaza throughout today, despite U.S . President Donald Trump’s order on Friday to “immediately” stop its assault on the enclave to allow for the release of Israeli captives held by Hamas — carrying out dozens of . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM OCT. 3 2 million rally in Italy for Gaza as general strike halts key services, by Giada Zampanocom | AP ROME — More than 2 million people across Italy rallied in over 100 cities Friday for a one-day general strike to support the residents of Gaza and a humanitarian aid mission, Italy’s largest union said. Click HERE to read more in English, and HERE to read in Spanish. Click HERE and HERE for reports from NPR and the Cradle.
– – –
FROM OCT. 3 Trump tells Israel to stop bombing Gaza, saying Hamas is ready for peace, by Nidal al-Mughrabi and Gram Slattery | Reuters CAIRO / WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump told Israel on Friday to immediately stop bombing Gaza after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a U.S. plan to end the war, but vexing issues like disarmament appeared unresolved. READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM OCT. 3 The 15 reasons why top UN legal experts say Trump’s Gaza plan breaches international law, by Sondos Asem | Middle East Eye United Nations human rights and legal experts on Friday warned that the proposed U.S.-sponsored peace plan for Gaza risks entrenching violations of international law. READ MORE . . .
– – –
Trump’s Gaza initiative: Chance for peace or empty words? by Azmat Ali | Middle East Monitor Hamas has issued a statement agreeing in principle to release all Israeli captives it holds — both the living and the remains of the dead — and to hand over the administration of Gaza to a Palestinian technocratic body. The concession came . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM OCT. 3 Tony Blair’s proposed team for Gaza, by Oscar Rickett | Middle East Eye A draft plan of what Gaza’s governance would look like under former British prime minister Tony Blair was leaked this week. Blair is being considered to lead a transitional authority in the Palestinian enclave. The plan for the Gaza International Transitonal Authority reveals . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM OCT. 3 Trump’s Gaza blueprint and Erdogan’s calculated complicity, by Musa Ozugurlu | The Cradle On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings that shaped the fate of Gaza and the Palestinian people, U.S. President Donald Trump met last week with Muslim and Arab leaders. Was it a coincidence that . . . READ MORE . . .
.