I won't repeat much of the war news that's on the site. I'll leave that to the news, though I doubt much of what they say is accurate. Things are moving very quickly, there's a lot to cover, they don't have full access, and most important, the pictures that grab are the ones of buildings being hit, not women and children huddled scared but relatively safe in Israel's bomb shelters and stairwells.

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Capt. Benjamin Rutland announces the entrance of IDF forces into Gaza with the objective of dealing a heavy blow to Hamas’ terrorist infrastructure and rocket-launching capability.

Launching a much expected ground offensive in a widening war on Gaza's Hamas rulers, Israeli tanks and infantry entered Gaza after nightfall Saturday.

Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Livni left for Paris on Thursday morning for meetings with President Nicolas Sarkozy of France who plans to come next week to Israel.

Arab foreign ministers met in Cairo on Wednesday to seek a common position in response to Israeli attacks which have killed more than 370 people in Gaza. Pressure has been mounting on Arab leaders to act decisively to stop Israel's five-day old military operation in Gaza.
The Arab world is deeply divided in its attitude towards the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which controls Gaza and is the main target of the Israeli assault.

"After a successful rally and press conference denouncing Israel's attacks on the people of Gaza, protesters demanded a meeting with U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D MN) and called for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel. Over 40 protesters are now occupying a conference room in her office, and after an hour, she has agreed to meet with them," reports OpEd News.

Israel has rejected an immediate 48-hour cease-fire with Hamas, saying it will push ahead with its military assault on the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials say Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his defense and foreign ministers made the decision after discussing the French-proposed truce during a meeting overnight.

Israeli public news agency REKA reports that Egypt presents ceasefire draft to Turkey for consideration by Hamas.

Civilian toll mounts in Gaza, reports REKA Israel. Gilad Shalit reported wounded. Israeli air strikes destroy 40 tunnels and reservists are called up.

Defense Minister of Israel Ehud Barak declared that Israel was in an "all-out war against Hamas." Speaking in Monday morning's special Knesset session on the war, Barak said, "We have nothing against Gaza residents but we are engaged in an all-out war against Hamas and its proxies."

There have been demonstrations throughout Israel to protest the operation in Gaza -- mainly near arab areas in Haifa, Teybeh, Tira, Qalansuwa and Jaljulia. On HaGefen street in Haifa , some four hundred residents -- both arabs and Jews are demonstrating. In the arab village of Furadis, some three hundred residents are protesting the Gaza operation.

In the usual process, the U.S. government, media here - and most liberal bloggers - are silent or playing down questions about whether Israel overreacted in its massive air strikes on Gaza, while the foreign press, and even Haaretz in Israel, carries more balanced accounts.