Israeli troops and Hamas gunmen exchanged fire in northern Gaza early Jan. 18—hours after Israel declared a "unilateral cease-fire." The fighting began when Hamas militants opened fire at an Israeli patrol near Jabalya refugee camp. None of the soldiers was wounded. Additionally, at least seven rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel shortly after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced that his security cabinet had voted in favor of the cease-fire. (Ha'aretz, Jan. 18)

Israeli troops again pounded Gaza Jan. 16 after Hamas offered a conditional truce amid a diplomatic push to end the offensive. For a third week, the Israeli army locked down the occupied West Bank for 48 hours after Hamas called for a day of "wrath" against the offensive. Since Israel unleashed Operation Cast Lead on Dec. 27, Gaza medics say 1,169 have been killed, including at least 370 children, and 85 women. There have been more than 5,015 injured, including at least 1,745 children. (Middle East Online, Ma'an News Agency, Jan. 16)

Israeli strikes set UN and media buildings and a hospital ablaze Jan. 15 as tanks rolled deep into Gaza City and diplomats struggled to find a way to halt the offensive that has now killed nearly 1,075. Hundreds of terrified civilians, many gripping wailing children, fled the advancing Israeli forces inside Gaza's main city as warplanes continued to pound the impoverished enclave.

Bolivian President Evo Morales announced Jan. 14 he is breaking diplomatic ties with Israel in protest against its offensive in Gaza, which has left more than 1,000 Palestinians dead. Morales also said he would seek to have top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, charged with "genocide" in the International Criminal Court.

Dozens of Israeli tanks pushed into Gaza City from the south early Jan. 15, as the forces in the north of the city also continued their advance. Israeli warplanes carried out some 70 air-strikes overnight, and numerous civilian structures were again hit. Israeli forces shelled a store near Al-Karameh towers in Gaza City, the Bashir mosque, and the al-Arqam school in eastern Gaza City. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the death toll is now 1,054. (Ma'an News Agency, Jan. 15)

From the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN), Jan. 14:

Jews Shut Down Israeli Consulate for Three Hours;
Ten Jews chain together to block driveway and entrance
Early this morning, Jewish activists in a historic first in Los Angeles, chained themselves to the entrance of the Israeli Consulate and blocked the driveway to the parking structure, blocking all traffic in and out of the building. "We sent a clear message to the world that LA Jews are part of the global majority in opposition to the Israeli siege of Gaza," said Lenny Potash a 72-year old protester who was cuffed to eight other activists, blocking the driveway to the consulate. The activists were joined by 50 other supporters and who chanted "LA Jews say, End the Siege of Gaza" and "Not in Our Name! We will Not be Silent!" Protesters also held up signs reading "Israeli Consulate: Closed for War Crimes."

Israeli forces battled Palestinian resistance fighters in Gaza City early Jan. 14, advancing hundreds of yards towards the city center over the past 24 hours. Israeli warplanes meanwhile bombed Rafah and the Strip's southern border with Egypt. Medical sources said some 70 people were killed Jan. 13, taking the overall toll to around 975 Palestinians, with another 4,400 wounded. The Israeli death toll since the start of the offensive remains at 13, including three civilians. At least six more soldiers have been wounded.

On Jan. 6 the Venezuelan foreign ministry announced that it was expelling the Israeli ambassador, Shlomo Cohen, to express solidarity with the "heroic Palestinian people" after Israeli's Dec. 27 military assault on the Palestinian territory of Gaza. Before the announcement, President Hugo Chávez Frias had described the Israeli military as "cowardly" and had called for Israeli president Shimon Peres and US president George W. Bush to be tried by the International Criminal Court for genocide.