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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Israeli tanks and infantry entered Gaza after nightfall Saturday, launching a ground offensive that the military said would be a “lengthy operation” in a widening war on Gaza’s Hamas rulers.
Heavy gun battles were reported as Israeli tanks and infantry soldiers entered Gaza after dark. The forces stayed close to the border area, witnesses said. Heavy artillery fire hit east of Gaza City in areas where Hamas fighters were deployed.
LONDON (Reuters) – Thousands of chanting, banner-waving demonstrators marched in cities across Europe on Saturday to demand a halt to Israeli bombing in the Gaza Strip.
Protests were held in Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Turkey as the Israeli offensive entered its second week, and before Israel confirmed ground forces had entered Gaza.
Israeli Arabs held a protest march and Kuwaitis also took to the streets, a day after bigger Middle East rallies.
In Paris, police said more than 20,000 demonstrators, many wearing Palestinian keffiyeh headscarves, marched through the city center chanting slogans such as “Israel murderer!” and waving banners demanding an end to the air attacks.
Similar protests were planned in some 30 other towns.
London police said more than 10,000 people staged a noisy march and rally to urge an end to an Israeli offensive against Hamas militants that has killed at least 435 Palestinians.
Protesters burned Israeli flags and threw missiles at police
In many cities people waved shoes — recalling the action of an Iraqi journalist who hurled footwear at U.S. President George W. Bush in Baghdad last month in a symbolic insult.
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An excerpt of an article written in the JTA (Jewish and Israeli News)…
“Whatever happens, the National Security Council (NSC) says, Israel must continue to pressure and weaken Hamas. If the current Hamas-Israel truce in Gaza breaks down, the NSC recommends that Israel launch a wide-ranging operation to topple Hamas in Gaza. Whether that would mean reoccupying Gaza, and if so, for how long, the NSC does not say…To keep Abbas in power and the two-state solution alive, the NSC recommends that Israel prevent Palestinian elections.”
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence.".
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said there was no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “Israel has been supplying comprehensive humanitarian aid to the strip,” she said during a trip to Paris.
UNRWA – Stop the Killing in Gaza
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."Hi Oui, Happy New Year. I have been doing all the reading I can on line today trying to figure out why this outrage from Israel into Gaza has happened…
I respect your words on things and so can you tell me why”!!??” all this waring and killing has happened? What brought this all on this time?
I can tell you, Brenda. This is a repeat of what Israel did to the Palestinian Authority in 2002, and the purpose is the same now as it was then. Look at what they are targeting, and you will see that just as it was in 2002 it is the ability of the government to effectively govern.
Remember that according to Ehud Barak himself this attack was planned six months ago.
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Obama told reporters “the loss of civilian life in Gaza and Israel is a source of deep concern for me.”
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."The usual meaningless politician’s comment. “There! I said something. Next subject, please.”