For today, links to four reports: from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and the Associated Press, and to commentary from Multinational Monitor and Middle East Eye; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE and SYRIA entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM
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Gaza ceasefire talk swirls as officials push for deal, by Erin Banco and Nidal al-Mughrabi | Reuters WASHINGTON / CAIRO — Sources briefed on talks about a Gaza ceasefire said today a deal could be signed in coming days that would end the fighting and free hostages held by the Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. READ MOVE . . .
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Hamas says Gaza truce talks in Doha ‘serious and positive.’ From AFP. DOHA — Hamas said talks in Qatar today aimed at a truce and hostage-prisoner exchange in Gaza were “serious and positive,” a day after an Israeli delegation arrived in Doha to meet with mediators. READ MORE . . .
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Israeli strike in Gaza kills at least 8 from the same family, Palestinians say. From AP. An Israeli strike in Gaza killed at least eight people from the same family, most of them women and children, Palestinian medics said today. READ MORE . . .
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FROM DEC. 16 Palestinians mourn dead after Israeli strike on Gaza’s Khan Younis. From Reuters. CAIRO / GAZA — Relatives of Palestinians killed by Israel in Khan Younis gathered around their white-shrouded bodies on Monday before carrying them to their graves. Health officials said on Sunday at least 20 people, including children, were killed in the strike at the school sheltering displaced families. READ MORE . . .
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FROM DEC. 16 The ouster of tyrant Assad paves the way for Palestine, not the other way round, by Amira Abo el-Fetouh | Multinational Monitor I have said it many times: Palestine will not be liberated unless and until the Arab countries are liberated from their tyrannical and oppressive rulers. READ MORE . . .
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Mahmoud Abbas is in his final act as betrayer of the Palestinian cause, by Sami Al-Arian | Middle East Eye Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has been trying to stay relevant as events in Gaza, the West Bank and across the region have been moving at a much faster pace than the octogenarian politician is able to cope with. This week, his security forces . . . READ MORE . . .