For today, links to five reports: from Middle East Eye, the Cradle, National Public Radio, and Reuters, and to a book review and brief video from Middle East Monitor; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names below. (WEST BANK, SYRIA, LEBANON and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down. GAZA 2-23-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM
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Israel imposes new conditions on release of seventh batch of Palestinian prisoners. From Middle East Eye. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, citing an unnamed source, reported that Israel is willing to free Palestinian prisoners whose release was previously delayed. However, . . . READ MORE . . .
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Hamas says ‘no new talks’ until Israel respects Gaza ceasefire terms. From the Cradle. Hamas has said that it will not hold any further ceasefire talks until Israel commits to the agreement and releases the Palestinian prisoners who were supposed to be let out over the weekend. READ MORE . . .
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Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release, while sending tanks to occupied West Bank. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf and Leila Fadel | NPR Israel delayed a Palestinian prisoner release, accusing Hamas of “humiliating” hostages, while also sending tanks into the occupied West Bank for the first time in decades. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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FROM FEB. 23 Trump envoy will push for Gaza truce extension in the region this week, he says. From Reuters. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to the Middle East this week, he said on Sunday, to push for the extension of a fragile Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The three-stage ceasefire . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM FEB. 22 Seventh round of Gaza prisoner exchange underway as hundreds of Palestinians set for release. From the Cradle. The Palestinian resistance handed over three Israeli soldier captives to the Red Cross on Saturday afternoon, hours after the release of two others that morning as part of the seventh round of ceasefire exchanges. Click HERE for article and brief video.
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FROM FEB. 23 Witnessing annihilation, a book review by Anjuman Rahman | Middle East Monitor In Eyes on Gaza (Street Noise Books, 2025), Khaled Beydoun, an Arab-American law professor, crafts a haunting and deeply personal account of the genocide unfolding in Gaza, balancing . . . Click HERE for review and a video of author speaking.
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