Gentle readers of this American Chronicle, creating a giant refugee camp and calling it Palestine is not a humanitarian thing to do! In fact it is a criminal act and it must stop now! If it does not stop, if the blockade is not removed immediately, the world will treat Israel in much the same way Is...

Gazans fear a major Israeli attack now, after being targetted for a still-mysterious attack carried out by persons reportedly wearing Egyptian military uniforms in southern Israel near Eilat [hundreds of miles south of Gaza] on Thursday. A Gazan militant group blamed by Israel for the attack in Eilat has denied responsibility, but is among several groups firing rockets and other projectiles onto Israeli areas surrounding Gaza, in reprisal for Israeli attacks. Casualtiees are mounting, and on Friday evening, the armed wing of Hamas, now ruling Gaza, declared an end to a cease-fire with Israel. Gaza's panicked residents who are unable to escape the blocked coastal strip now fear a repeat of the worst.

A 36-year-old Italian activist working for Palestinian rights and freedom, Vittorio Arrigoni, was found dead -- apparently hanged -- just before dawn Friday, after being kidnapped by a "Salafist" group of Islamists who are critical of Hamas in Gaza, and who said they would kill Vittorio unless Hamas released their group's leader by a deadline more than twelve hours later (5 pm Friday evening). Hamas, which has used force in the past against Salafist groups, said that Vittorio was killed before their men arrived on the scene. His death is the second in two weeks of activists living and working among Palestinians (Juliano Mer-Khamis was shot dead outside his Freedom Theatre in Jenin refugee camp) who passionately supported Palestinian rights and freedom. Many Palestinians are reacting with profound shock, shame and anger.

The danger of permitting the Egyptians democracy, rather than replacing a dictator with his (and our) torturer lies, let us be honest, not in the possibility that Egyptian politics will approach the religiosity of our own Republican Party, and not in the possibility that the civil liberties we have helped deny Egyptians for decades won't all be immediately established, and certainly not in the possibility that the Egyptians would commit collective suicide by attempting to attack the United States, but rather in the possibility that other peoples would be inspired to attempt self-rule as well, and -- more directly -- in the probability that Egypt would cease to uphold the collective punishment of the people of Gaza.

Israel's Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyah made a surprising offer on Friday, standing next to Quartet envoy Tony Blair in Jerusalem, to develop Palestinian-allocated offshore natural gas deposits buried under the eastern Mediterranean in maritime space, defined by mutual agreement under the Oslo Accords, that extends 20 nautical miles out from Gaza´s coastline. Israel presently has a long-term, highly-concessionary agreement to buy natural gas from Egypt. But, Netanyahu said, Israel was interested in diversifying its suppliers. And, he said, the move would help the Palestinian economy, which would in turn help insure "stability" and "security". The Palestinian gas is located off Gaza's coast, and Hamas is currently in control of the Gaza Strip. But, the Israeli proposal either implies that the tacit consent of Hamas has been obtained -- or that Israel and the PA would go ahead with the deal without Hamas. Plans were to send the extracted gas to the southern Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon for refining, and then to distribute most of it inside Israel (with a small portion being returned to Gaza for domestic consumption). There was no talk of a pipeline to the West Bank.

Why did Israel give UNRWA authorization -- now -- to have four "submachine" guns in Gaza? Five years ago, Israel completed a unilateral "disengagement" of some 8,000 settlers and the military forces protecting them. But, almost nothing gets into or out of Gaza without Israeli permission. Why did UNRWA ask? What good are four "submachine" guns going to do, if there is really a problem? Is the UN now going to start shooting the place up, too?

A new attempt is being made to break the declared Israeli naval blockade of Gaza -- by Jewish activists who say that it constitutes an illegal collective punishment of the whole population, and is a grossly immoral act. A small 30-foot ship, the Irene, sailed from Cyprus Sunday afternoon, carrying about ten passengers and crew -- some of them Israeli -- and one Israeli television reporter. They say their aim is to get to Gaza, and that they will not cooperate with -- though they will also not resist -- Israeli forces who may attempt to intercept their expedition. An Israeli government spokesperson has now dismissed the Jewish Boat expedition as a joke and a gimmick. The outcome is still some hours ahead.

"The Islamist rulers of the Gaza Strip have ordered lingerie shops to display more modesty. A week after banning women from smoking water pipes in public places, the Hamas-run police force has told stores selling women's underwear to remove scantily-clad mannequins and any posters of racy underga...

Critical hours lie ahead as a Libyan-chartered cargo ship carrying food and medicine destined for the Gaza Strip sails past Egypt's Port Said. The Israeli Navy made contacout with the ship hours ago, to emphasize that it cannot sail through though an area under formal Israeli blockade. The ship's stated destination is the Egyptian port of El-Arish, in the northern Sinai, not far from Egypt's Rafah crossing into Gaza. What will happen now?

As a Libyan charity was set sail in a chartered cargo ship carrying food and medical aid destined for the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Defense and Foreign Ministers of Israel had already intervened to discourage them. An Israeli naval assault at sea at the end of May on six ships sailing as a Freedom Flotilla to Gaza resulted in the deaths of eight Turkish men and one American high school student of Turkish origin. When it was first announced in January 2009 during the Gaza war, there was no public challenge to Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. But Israel did not do a great job of publicizing and explaining this formal naval blockade -- at least until the Freedom Flotilla was already on its way. Now, the lessons do appear to have been absorbed. Israel's UN Ambassador has written to the United Nations to ask for support to stop attempts to challenge the naval blockade. And, for better or for worse, all indications suggest that Israel's Naval blockade of Gaza -- a measure which is rooted in international customary law -- appears to be quietly gaining international assent.

The Israeli government has developed a new approach to its sanctions against the Gaza Strip that have been administered by the Army ever since the Israeli cabinet decided three years ago was an "enemy entity" or "hostile territory". Many major actors have welcomed the new policy. But human rights organizations are both sceptical and critical, and say that much more is needed. Sari Bashi of the Israeli human rights organization said about the Government plan, "if they are to be believed, [it] would allow only 70 percent of what Gaza received in 2005."

Israel's announcement that it was modifying the regulations of its military-administered sanctions against the Gaza Strip (at least vis-a-vis the land crossings) still leaves many questions unanswered and many issues un-addressed. In the first day after the announcement, however, only 97 truckloads of goods were allowed to enter the Gaza Strip, and on the second day it was up to 130 (whereas before the sanctions were imposed, between 400 and 600 truckloads of material entered daily). But Israeli officials are insisting they have a right to inspect each and every thing that goes in or out of Gaza (except, of course, through the tunnels...)

After due deliberation and much speculative leaking, the Israeli government announced today some changes regarding goods it will now allow into the Gaza Strip through Israeli militay-controlled land crossings -- in particular, Kerem Shalom (which Israel has always wanted the Palestinians to agree to use, but they were not consulted in today's decision). Only weapons -- and the materials used to make weapons (a rather broad list of items, which has included sugar -- will now be barred. But no boats will be allowed to go directly to Gaza, the Israeli government said. Everything must pass through the Israeli-controlled land crossings, and everything must be inspected by Israel. Quartet Middle East Envoy Tony Blair tried to put a positive spin on the situation, calling this "a significant change in policy", even though it only tightens Israeli supervision and control. As one Palestinian official noted, there is no change at all in the policy that bans the movement of people in and out of the Gaza Strip.

Bahrain to send medicine and medical equipments as part of its humanatrian efforts to help Gazans

Calls for International Investigation of Israeli Military Attacks. Marina del Rey - Congressional Candidate Marcy Winograd (CA-36) denounces the Israeli military's killing of at least 10 Free Gaza activists and wounding of dozens more on board a flotilla delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. A...

Since September 2000, Israel killed more than 6,300 Palestinians, most of whom were children and defenseless civilians. Israel has also demolished more than 25,000 Palestinian homes since 1967. It possess up to 200 nuclear warheads in violation of the United Nations Security Council resolution 487. Interestingly, it receives something around $7 million of military aid from the U.S. per day. 7,383 Palestinians are being kept in the prisons of Israel. The racist regime of Israel has built 223 settlements on the Palestinians' confiscated lands.

Israel is preparing a difficult welcome for the Freedom Flotilla now sailing towards Gaza, laden with thousands of tons of humanitarian equipment and materials that Israel has banned from entry into the Gaza Strip. Haaretz has reported that "An IDF spokesman said that the army is prepared to carry out the instructions of the executive branch in preventing the ´Freedom Flotilla´ from reaching the Gaza Strip. He said the flotilla was a provocation in the guise of a humanitarian act, that there is no shortage of food in Gaza, and that the border was open to any organization or state to transfer goods … IDF sources said they were concerned that terrorists may try to use the ´Freedom Flotilla´ to enter the Strip or smuggle in weapons. In Ashdod Port, a large tent has been set up complete with air-conditioning, intended to receive flotilla participants. After the navy leads the vessels to the port, the activists are expected to be taken into the tent where they will undergo a procedure similar to that undergone by sailors entering any port. The process will include security checks, after which each participant will speak with a representative of the Interior Ministry who will propose that the activist sign an undertaking to keep away from Israel. If the participant agrees, he or she will be flown back to their country of origin at Israel´s expense. If they refuse the offer, they will be arrested. They will then undergo medical checks and an Magen David Adom ambulance team will be on hand in case any require hospital treatment. Then they will undergo further medical checks by the Israel Prison Services. From here they will be taken to a detention center in Beersheba. Thousands of IDF and government ministry representatives will take part in the operation. Certain distinct groups such as diplomats will be accompanied by representatives of the Foreign Ministry. Food and beverages will be supplied throughout the process. Authorities are also preparing for the possibility of provocative behavior, which will be handled by Prison Services staff. The process is expected to take just a few hours before mission members are transferred to the airport or detention center". Israeli government officials have said that the participants in the Freedom Flotilla will be charged with illegal entry into Israel, which they did not intend to visit in the first place...

The Israeli Ministry of Defense told journalists on Wednesday evening that it will not allow the Freedom Flotilla, now moving toward a rendez-vous in the Mediterranean sea carrying tens of thousands of tons of needed consumer goods -- including construction materials -- to reach its destination on the shores of the Gaza Strip, one of the most densely-populated strips of land on earth, where 1.5 million are living without any reasonable chance of escape. The activists are still saying they will not be deterred. The projected plan is for the Freedom Flotilla to head to Gaza on Saturday.

The situation in Gaza is dire. An Israeli military-administered embargo that has been tightened since the Hamas take-over of the Gaza strip in mid-2007 has severely restricted what Israel allows into the densely-populated Gaza Strip to what is called the "humanitarian minimum". Egypt is building a steel barrier extending 25 meters underground to stop the tunnelling activity that has been Gaza's lifeline during this embargo. During Israel's unprecedented military Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, from 27 December 2008 to 18 January 2009, it also formally imposed a naval blockade on Gaza -- aimed both at stopping weapons smuggling and also at blocking international activists from high-profile and risky but mainly symbolic attempts to bring humanitarian aid in by sea. Now, Turkey, a major regional actor with previously close relationship of cooperation with Israel, may put its weight behind a new effort to change the seige affecting 1.5 million Palestinians (half of them children) living in Gaza.

The school feeding programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territory was introduced as a safety net in order to protect the livelihoods of the most vulnerable non-refugee households.

In a worrisome and unprecedented step, Hamas authorities have detained freelance British journalist Paul Martin at a courthouse in Gaza City on Sunday, and ordered him held in Gaza's central jail for 15 days on suspicion of violating what a Hamas spokesman called "Palestinian law". Palestinian journalists who were present at the courthouse during the arrest say that Martin had arrived to testify on behalf of a Palestinian "fighter" who is being accused of collaboration with Israel -- a dangerous accusation in the charged circumstances. But, according to a Hamas spokesman, it was testimony from the Palestinian on trial -- in whose defense Martin was to testify -- that laid the basis for Martin's arrest. One Palestinian media source reported briefly that Martin may be accused of trying to locate Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held captive somewhere in Gaza since late June 2006. Israel wants Shalit released, and has said they will keep up the pressure at all the crossings into Gaza until Shalit's safe return home.

Just days before the UN Secretary-General is due to report on whether of not there have been independent investigations into what happened during last winter's Israeli military operation in Gaza by (1) Israel, and by the (2) Hamas -- and by (3) the West-Bank-based Palestinian Authority as well -- new revelations continue to emerge based on interviews with key (but unnamed) Israeli military officers.

...the gravest of all the Palestinian sufferings is embodied in the suffering of the people of Gaza as they endure a vicious economic strangulation imposed by Israel's occupation. And despite widespread condemnation of that arguably egregious draconian policy, Israel continues to operate seemingly devoid of any conscience and without any consequences.

One year after two unilateral cease-fires (one by Israel, one by Hamas) ended the unprecedented Israeli military operation that was supposedly directed against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, how is the situation? Worse than ever. The details are dismal -- and even horrifying. Meanwhile, the politics of the situation involve a cat-and-mouse game between Israel and Hamas: if Hamas can exert its authoritiy over all factions and military sub-groups in the Gaza Strip, and prove itself a more effective "address" to which Israel can address any grievances, then Israel would be inclined to deal with Hamas on a government-to.... well, authority basis. If this cuts out the Palestinian Authority based in Ramallah, so what? Only a few officials in Israel care about sustaining that structure, which resulted from an agreement between the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. If Hamas can assert effective rule in Gaza, Israel will go along with it -- despite the fact that it is Israeli pressure on the U.S. that keeps the rest of the world from dealing with Gaza at the moment.

While negotiations and peace efforts languish, the suffering in Gaza continues. There are calls of alarm from the United Nations, but the situation continues to deteriorate.

Gentle readers within this American Chronicle, some people believe that they can get away with anything simply because they have the political and military power to do it. Those people are wrong! The Israeli government, for example, has created a large concentration camp known as the Gaza strip and ...

PLEASE BE ADVISED: My personal comments are simply that. So, In proceeding I will start with a quote from The WORD Of GOD [The HOLY BIBLE]: Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spir...

Justice Richard Goldstone is not "going to lie down and die", to use his own words, as the UN General Assembly is looking for a date to examine the nearly-600-page report on last winter's Gaza war that the Fact-Finding Mission he headed have submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in mid-September. Pressure on the Palestinians not to press the matter in the Human Rights Council backfired -- and badly damaged the credibility of the Palestinian leadership, to the extent that there was virtually no opposition to a Palestinian about-face, and a resolution they finally submitted was adopted by 25 votes in the 47-member Human Rights Council in mid-October. But, there has been no let up in the pressure, and Justice Goldstone has now asked the Obama Administration to justify its criticism of the report. He has, so far, received no answer.

The Israeli military is proceeding at its own pace to carry out its own internal investigations into the war -- and some cases have reportedly been sent for possible criminal prosecution, including cases of Palestinian civilians being shot while waving white flags. But the report written by South Africa's Justice Richard Goldstone, his team, and many Israeli as well as international human rights and international law advocates all have said that it is not possible for the Israeli military (or any powerful institution, for that matter) to carry out a credible investigation of itself. The Israeli Minister of Defense and his Chief of Staff are opposed to any other investigation. But other senior Israeli officials are reportedly speaking out in favor of an independent Israeli investigation. However, as reported in recent days, the reasoning is that it is advantageous to comply with the bottom-line recommendation contained in the UN Human Rights Council-mandated Goldstone report -- namely, that Israel and Hamas must each establish internal investigations within six months, or be referred to the UN Security Council. And, many Israelis argue that this is required for "better PR".

Yasser Abbas is a businessman in Ramallah, and the older of two living sons of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Fatah movement. In an interview, he talked about the Hamas takeover in Gaza, and about his father's house there.

The UN Human Rights Council is holding a day of public discussion of a report it mandated from a Fact-finding Mission headed by South Africa's Justice Richard Goldstone that looked into the circumstances involved in Israel's 22-day military operation in Gaza last winter, Operation Cast Lead. Justice Goldstone told the Human Rights Council in Geneva that "to date of the Government of Israel avoids dealing with the substance of the report". In the report, the Mission stated that it was "struck by the repeated comment of Palestinian victims, human rights defenders, civil society interlocutors and officials that they hoped that this would be the last investigative mission of its kind, because action for justice would follow from it. It was struck, as well, by the comment that every time a report is published and no action follows, this 'emboldens Israel and her conviction of being untouchable'. The Mission is firmly convinced that justice and respect for the rule of law are the indispensable basis for peace. The prolonged situation of impunity has created a justice crisis in the OPT (occupied Palestinian territory) that warrants action." Today, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner told the Human Rights Council that "We encourage Israel to utilize appropriate domestic (judicial) review and meaningful accountability mechanisms to investigate and follow-up on credible allegations ... If undertaken properly and fairly, these reviews can serve as important confidence-building measures that will support the larger essential objective which is a shared quest for justice and lasting peace". Posner also called on Hamas to investigate war crimes committed by Palestinians in Gaza.

When seen from a distance, kites in Gaza may look quite ordinary. But while Gazan children, in many respects, are just children, their kites are hardly ordinary. Often adorned by the red, black, green and white of the Palestinian flag, Gazan children´s kites are expressions of defiance, hope and the...

Nearly six months have passed since the Israeli army ceased pounding the tiny stretch of land that is the Gaza Strip. Since then, Gaza continues to appear on the news once in a while, as a recurring subject of human misery. The tireless efforts of British MP George Galloway, and the courageo...

Wednesday, the Israeli Navy intercepted a Greek ship, the Spirit of Humanity, operated by the American aid group, the Free Gaza Movement, that set off from Cyprus and was bound for Gaza. Its cargo, immediately confiscated by the Israeli authorities, consisted of humanitarian aid, including three ton...

There is a mounting convergence of evidence reported by major international and Israeli human rights organizations that is being published now, documenting the Israeli use of battlefield weapons on trapped Gazan civilians during a major offensive this past winter. The reports all urge Israel to start to cooperation with the ongoing Fact-finding mission on the Gaza conflict mandated by the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, and led by South African Justice Richard Goldstone. If Israel does not do its own independent investigation, the groups say, there should be an international inquiry. Meanwhile, Israel continues to slam the motives of these reports, and still maintains that its own internal IDF investigation is quite sufficient. However, Amnesty International takes issue with Israeli reports that Hamas used civilians as human shields, saying it found no evidence of that. Amnesty International says that its findings show the opposite is true -- that the Israeli military turned Palestinian civilians in Gaza into human shields during the IDF's Operation Cast Lead. But, both Israel and Hamas have committed war crimes, Amnesty International said -- adding even more reason for a major independent international investigation.

As it vowed, Israel has not allowed the latest Free Gaza expedition that sailed from Cyprus to reach the Gaza Strip. The "Spirit of Humanity" ship with 21 persons on board was intercepted around 2:00 am Wednesday morning, but it refused orders from Israeli naval ships to stop and turn around. About twelve hour later, when it was just a few miles away from Gaza's maritime space, the Free Gaza ship was boarded, and then forcibly towed to the Isreli southern seaport of Ashdod. The cargo was impounded, but Israeli officials say it will be transferred by them to Gaza after it passes inspection. The passengers and crew are reportedly still being held by Israeli immigration authorities, and may soon be deported.

In the first meeting of the Middle East Quartet since Barack Obama took office, the group issued a statement on Friday in Italy that reflected the somewhat tougher tone being taken by the Obama administration (a freeze of all Israeli settlement activity in occupied Palestinian territory -- but not a roll-back on anything beyond "outposts" constructed since 2001, and an early resumption of negotiations without preconditions), combined with some long-held EU positions (unilateral actions will not be recognized by the international community). The Quartet said that "the establishment of a state of Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza in which the Palestinian people can determine their own destiny is in the fundamental interests of the international community". And in one of its strongest statements to date, the Quartet said that the current situation in Gaza is "unsustainable" -- and in nobody's interest.

Free Gaza activists are still vowing to try to leave Cyprus by sea for Gaza Friday, despite warnings from Cypriot and American authorities that it is too dangerous. The group said that "We take these risks well aware of what the possible consequences may be. We do so because the consequences of doing nothing are so much worse. Anytime we allow ourselves to be bullied, every time we pass by an evil and ignore it - we lower our standards and allow our world to be made that much harsher and unjust for us all".

For the first time in nine months, the Israeli military is authorizing the transfer of some 350 calves on Sunday -- for the 1.5 million inhabitants of Gaza. The Israeli military, which administers the Israeli policy of blockade and sanctions against the entire population of Gaza, has determined in a "Red Lines" document that a minimum of 300 cows per week are needed to avoid malnutrition and a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. According to a report in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, some 4,000 live cattle will be delivered for the upcoming month of Ramadan starting in September -- for 1.5 million people. Last year, about 9,000 live cattle were delivered for Ramadan. Apparently, it is hard to smuggle live cows through the extensive tunnel system under the border with Egypt that Gazans entrepreneurs operate at the risk to their employees's lives -- sheep are easier, because they are willing to walk through on their own, and besides they are smaller. For comparison, some 40,000 lambs have been brought into Gaza through the tunnels over the last year.

The Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz has published revelations about how the Israeli blockade against Gaza operates -- although there is still a lot more to be revealed. The article, entitled "The Gaza Bonanza", reports that there is smuggling not only from the Egyptian side of the border, but also from the tightly-sealed Israeli crossings. Meanwhile, Sari Bashi, the Executive Director of the Israeli human rights organization GISHA says that "It is obvious that two years into the blockade, the restrictions on civilian goods entering Gaza are only hurting 1.5 million civilians, but providing no solution to regional problems". Bashi notes that "Almost nothing is allowed into Gaza … and there is no security rationale for that … This is not serving Israel´s security interests. Two years since the closure, none of the declared security or political goals have been achieved".

His room is ready; the walls have fresh paint and my kids prepared a basket of chocolates and other treats to place beside his bed. They hung a poster on his door that has been decorated with colored pens and glitter that says "Welcome Shobhi!" I have taught them that "Sobhi" actually means the "mor...

No more shots. No more bombs. No more phosphoric weapons lighting up the dark nights. It is quiet in Gaza, except for the sound of death. Palestinians are waking up to the gruesome reality of life after war. How do you start over? How do you go on? You try to pick up the pieces, yet the massiv...

A United Nations mission with a broad human rights mandate -- and a military expert on board -- will arrive in Gaza on Monday to begin both public and private hearings on the what happened before, during, and after Israel's military operation in Gaza from 27 December to 17 January. The preparation has been intense, and meticulous, and the mission says the information it collects will remain the property of the United Nations, and that precautionary measures will be taken to ensure the safety or protection of victims, witnesses, sources and any other persons cooperating with the mission. Anyone wishing to make contact with the Mission on any matter relevant to its mandate can do so by email to factfindinggaza@ohchr.org, according to the Public Advance Notice. In addition, anyone wishing to make contact with the Mission during its visit to Gaza may call the Mission by telephone at: (+970) 0597 444 158 or (+970) 0597 444 159.

Funding would be administered by USAID instead of the UN (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colorado) recently offered an amendment to the Supplemental Appropriations Bill, H.R. 2346, that would remove $119 million in humanitarian aid for the war-ravaged Gaza Strip from under United N...

Whatever precautions the Israeli military took were clearly inadequate, a UN Board of Inquiry has just reported about IDF attacks that hit UN installations in the Gaza Strip during the three-week Operation Cast Lead there. Warnings to civilians were unclear, and there was nowhere for them to go anyway. The victims in the UN installations included: a night guard in an UNRWA school; three young men (25,24,19) the IDF believed to be preparing a military attack but who were apparently only heading to a toilet in an adjacent area of another UNRWA school compound; two small boys (5 and 7 years old) sleeping in still another UNRWA school; and more. There was also millions of dollars worth of property damages. The Israeli Defense Minister insists that none of the attacks was intentional, and has just ordered that the UN be given the results of the IDF's own inquiry into the attacks on UN installations in Gaza during the recent war. It is not clear why this was not done earlier. And, Israel's State President Shimon Peres said that the government had formed a committee to look at the issue of compensation.

Even before the United Nations report was released on the Israeli military strikes that hit UN installations in Gaza during the 22-day IDF Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli government machine was busy at work, preparing to denounce the report, and trying to pressure the UN Secretary-General BAN Ki-Moon to soften the findings -- even more than he apparently already has. Israeli news reports said that the report, as it stood, "is liable to generate a diplomatic earthquake", and would "drag Israel into deep diplomatic mud". Will this Israeli pressure succeed?

An Israeli military investigation was hastily opened, then quickly closed, after remarks made by soldiers that they had been given unusually "permissive" rules of engagement during the recent Israeli military operation in Gaza. But, Israeli rights groups say that there is plenty of evidence to back up the accusations that the lives of Palestinian civilians or the protection of Palestinian property were not regarded as very important, by comparison with the safety of Israeli soldiers operating on the ground in Gaza for two weeks in January. Now, a shocking new report has just emerged, that the Israeli military used huge unmanned D-9 armored bulldozers in the Gaza operation -- and was pleased with the results.

White phosphorus was used by the Israeli military in Gaza, for the first time, during two weeks in January, according to Human Rights Watch. The group's senior emergencies researcher told journalists in Jerusalem that "It was used extensively, it was used repeatedly, in densely-populated areas. For us, that means it couldn't have been just one unit, it had to have been a policy or a decision on the highest levels. Or, at least, there were no orders saying 'Don't use it in densely-populated areas', which is an order that they must, and should give, because that's the law. You don't use this stuff". He said that American and British military experts who were consulted said "We don't use white phosphorus in populated areas -- everybody knows that".

Israel's use of white phosphorus bombs during its recent Operation Cast Lead in Gaza violated the rules of war, a leading human rights organization reported today. Human Rights Watch said that even before its experts were even allowed to enter Gaza, they had watched from adjacent areas in Israel as air-exploded white phosphorus bombs exploded over densely-packed residential areas in Gaza. The report is damning.

More of the horrors of war continue to emerge from Gaza. A sewage lagoon containment wall was hit, and a large flood of raw sewage rushed 1.2 kilometers across the landscape, settling in the midst of growing crops. There are fears that even more damage has been done by this sewage flood to Gaza's already overly saline and already polluted underground water aquifer -- which is the only source of water in the crowded coastal strip where 1.5 million people are trapped. Fields of crops have also been polluted by the sewage flood, while Israeli military-administered sanctions ban the entry of many needed items into the Gaza Strip, including bottled gas used to cook and to boil and purify water for drinking. And, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights released figures confirming 1,434 deaths in Gaza in the 22-day Israeli military offensive.