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.

Israeli tanks rolled deeper into Gaza City from the northern outskirts Jan. 12, approaching the headquarters of Hamas' security building. "We are tightening the encirclement of the city," Brig. Eyal Eisenberg, commander of the Israeli offensive, told a small group of reporters brought in to Gaza to observe the offensive. (Reporters remain generally barred from the Strip.) Air-strikes also continued through the day against 25 "targets" across the Strip—far fewer than in recent days. Nearly 30 rockets or mortars were fired on Israel from Gaza; no casualties were reported. Palestinian medical officials say 910 have been killed in Gaza so far, including 292 children and 75 women. Israeli officials say 13 Israelis, including three civilians, have been killed. (CNN, Jan. 13; BBC News, Jan. 12)

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.