For today, links to four reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, Middle East Eye and the Cradle, and to articles of commentary from Middle East Eye and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (IRAN, LEBANON, SYRIA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. GAZA 2-9-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM
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NEWER Trump says no right of return for Palestinians under his plan for U.S. ‘ownership’ of Gaza, by Zeke Miller and Sam Magdy | AP WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said in an interview that Palestinians in Gaza would not have a right to return under his plan for U.S. “ownership” of the war-torn territory, contradicting other officials in his administration who have sought to argue that he . . . READ MORE . . .
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Trump says wants U.S. to own Gaza, could let Middle East states help rebuild, by Jeff Mason | Reuters ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said that he is committed to buying and owning Gaza, but could allow sections of the land to be rebuilt by other states in the Middle East. READ MORE . . .
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Hamas delays captive release ‘until further notice’ accusing Israel of violating terms, by Alex MacDonald | Middle East Eye Hamas says it will delay the release of the next tranche of Israeli captives, accusing Israel of failing to comply with the terms of the ceasefire deal. READ MORE . . .
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Netanyahu sabotaging second phase of Gaza ceasefire: report. From the Cradle. Israeli sources believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to sabotage the second phase of the prisoner release deal and derail the Gaza ceasefire, Haaretz reported on Sunday. “It’s a show,” said one. READ MORE . . .
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How Trump and Netanyahu forced Mohammed bin Salman to draw a line on Palestine, by David Hearst | Middle East Eye A covert relationship claimed by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Saudi Arabia, years in the making, has been unravelling in a matter of days. He talked about it last week in Washington in an interview . . . READ MORE . . .
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The cost of ignoring history: Gaza, grievances and the threat of war, by Brian Palmer | Middle East Monitor The Trump administration promised a bold new course in the Middle East, and now the United States stands at a perilous crossroads, echoing the policies and decrees that precipitated the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil and . . . READ MORE . . .