At least ten Israeli soldiers have opted for 14-day prison terms rather than going through with their deployment to Gaza. The refusals are the first of their kind since Israel launched its massive assault on the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the soldiers said they were refusing deployment on "conscience's grounds." No'em Levna, a first lieutenant in Israel's army, said: "We killed 900 Palestinians in 17 days, including hundreds of children. If violence must be used, it should be used minimally, and that isn't what's happening. Killing innocent civilians cannot be justified. Nothing justifies this kind of killing. It's devilish... [T]he hatred and anger we are planting in Gaza will rebound on us." (Ma'an News Agency, Jan. 13)

Via the Israeli anti-occupation online magazine Kibush, Jan. 8:

In support of the Palestinian human rights community call for international action
A call from within – signed by Israeli citizens
As if the occupation was not enough, the brutal ongoing repression of the Palestinian population, the construction of settlements and the siege of Gaza—now comes the bombardment of the civilian population: men, women, old folks and children. Hundreds of dead, hundreds of injured, overwhelmed hospitals, and the central medicine depot of Gaza bombed. The ship Dignity of the Free Gaza movement which brought emergency medical supplies and a number of physicians was also attacked. Israel has returned to openly committing war crimes, worse than what we have seen in a long time.

Israel poured thousands of reservists called up in recent days into Gaza in the early hours of Jan. 12, after a day in which its troops pushed deeper into Gaza City and warplanes carried out nearly 60 air-strikes. Thousands of panicked Palestinian civilians have fled their homes before the advancing troops, responding to Israeli warnings that it would step up its war on the Strip. Since the start of the offensive, 890 have been killed, including 275 children, and another 3,800 wounded, according to Dr. Muawiya Hassanein, the head of Gaza emergency services.

From the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) via Socialist WebZine, Jan. 11:

Sisters and brothers:

The PGFTU has been working at all levels in Palestine and in its international relations to mobilise international support for peace in the region. This is the ultimate goal for our working families in Palestine, who laboured in every way possible to bring about an end to the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian territories. This occupation is the longest and worst in the modern history.

Israeli troops bombed Gaza into a third week Jan. 10 as both Tel Aviv and Hamas ignored a UN Security Council demand to end the fighting. The Palestinian death toll reached 854 as Israel carried out more than 40 air-strikes against the territory overnight, mostly in the Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City and the Jabaliya refugee camp in the north. Bombs also fell on al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, where a mosque came under missile fire. In Khan Younis, the Israeli army shelled a security compound and a civil defense building. Although Hamas and its allies now claim to have fired more than 600 rockets into Israel, the Israeli toll since the start of the offensive still stands at 10 soldiers and three civilians.

The US Senate unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution Nov. 8 voicing strong support for Israel's Gaza offensive, while urging a ceasefire that would prevent Hamas from launching any more rockets into Israel. The House followed up the next day with a similar resolution, expressing "unwavering" support for Israel's right to "self-defense" against "unceasing aggression" by Hamas. It said the civilian lives must be protected to the maximum extent possible, and expressed condolences to Palestinian and Israeli victims and their families. But the text "lay[s] blame both for the breaking of the 'calm' and for subsequent civilian casualties in Gaza precisely where blame belongs, that is, on Hamas."

Israel pounded Gaza with bombs and shells Jan. 9, vowing to pursue its war despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel would not bow to "outside influence," as its warplanes carried out more air-strikes and the army's tanks shelled several locations despite an announced three-hour "humanitarian" lull. Hamas meanwhile also rejected the UN resolution on the grounds that it only serves Israel's interests. Gaza medical authorities say the death toll in the offensive now stands at 801, with more than 3,500 injured. Children account for 230 of the dead.

Oakland, Calif., exploded into violent protests Jan. 7 over the police slaying of 22-year-old African American father of one Oscar Grant. Following a memorial service for Grant at Palma Ceia Baptist Church, it was announced that officer Johannes Mehserle had resigned from the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police force so he would not be forced to testify at an internal hearing. Later in the day, a rally was held at the Fruitvale BART station, where Grant was killed, then marched up International Blvd. towards downtown Oakland. Following skirmishes with police, protesters took over and blocked the intersection of 14th and Broadway for over an hour, with chants of "We are Oscar Grant." When riot police tried to clear the intersection, protesters ran down 14th, smashing the windows of cars and a McDonalds, and torching an SUV.