First, links to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press and, via Consortium News, a link to commentary by a Britain-based observer; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (The UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Hamas battles Israeli forces in north Gaza, amid hopes of hostage deal, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and James Mackenzie  | Reuters  GAZA / JERUSALEM — Hamas militants battled Israeli forces trying to push into Gaza’s largest refugee camp today and Israeli air strikes to the south killed dozens of Palestinians, witnesses said, as a U.S. media report of a nascent hostage release deal was denied. The Washington Post said U.S. mediators were close to a deal . . . READ MORE . . .

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Jordan’s foreign minister offers blistering criticism of Israel as its war on Hamas rages on, by Jon Gambrell | AP  Jordan’s foreign minister offered blistering criticism Saturday of Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, describing it as “blatant aggression” against Palestinian civilians that threatens to engulf the wider Middle East. Ayman Safadi’s harsh assessment, alleging . . . READ MORE . . .

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The war machine wants you to condemn Hamas, by Jonathan Cook | Jonathan-Cook.net / Consortium News  However counter-intuitive it may sound, there are three good grounds — ethical ones, at that — for refusing to join in the chorus of condemnation of Hamas’ actions on Oct. 7. That isn’t . . . READ MORE . . .