Jan 5, 2009

Palestine News Roundup: Gaza, Gaza, Gaza

Humanitarian

A Palestinian family huddles together in Gaza City (Christian Science Monitor)

Civilian deaths mount in Gaza war (Al-Jazeera, English)

Casualties rise in Gaza offensive
(BBC)

International Red Cross: Israel and Hamas must stop targeting civilians (AP)

Israel offensive heightens Gaza humanitarian crisis: aid agencies (AFP)

Fear, shortages for civilians caught in Gaza fight (AP)

Political

Israel Strikes Before an Ally - Bush - Departs (New York Times); Bush: Israel has right to protect itself (AP)

Egypt Becomes Flashpoint Over Gaza (WSJ)

EU foreign policy chief Solana arrives in Egypt on Gaza conflicts (Xinhua)

Arab ministers to press UN on Gaza (Al-Jazeera, English)

Security chief: Hamas eases demands for ceasefire with Israel (Xinhua)

EU and Britain call for Gaza cease-fire (CNN)

Turkey might take Hamas' truce conditions to UN: PM (Xinhua)

Gaza diplomacy gathers pace (Al-Jazeera, English)

Military

Gaza battle intensifies - Israel closes in on Gaza City
(Al-Jazeera, English)

Israel aims to control key Gaza towns (Financial Times)

Hamas won't stop rocket attacks on Israel (CNN)

Frustrated reporters locked out of Gaza war zone (IHT)

CommentaryReactions

Thousands in Lebanon, Turkey protest Israel attack (AP)

Israel: Over 150000 Protest Gaza Military Operation (Monthly Review) [note: some have estimated the crowds to be one-tenth this estimate]

Police, protesters clash near US Beirut embassy (AP)

Tel Aviv rally decries Gaza assault (Al-Jazeera, English)

Robert Fisk: Keeping out the cameras and reporters simply doesn't work (Independent)

George Bisharat: Has Israel's response exceeded its right to defend itself? (SF Chronicle)

Struggle for self-defence and the struggle for Palestinian primacy (Guardian UK)

A dangerous gamble in Gaza (Financial Times)