Gaza Update (5 a.m. Israel; 10 p.m. Eastern US): This is "All-Out War"

Latest Updates: Gaza: This is an (Israeli) War of Choice
and Gaza: The Futility of the Israeli War

Israel's bombardment of Gaza has entered a fourth day, with ministerial offices targets and the Islamic University hit again. At least 350 Palestinians have been killed, and hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties. Four Israelis have been killed by rocket fire.

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, has now called for a cease-fire. Perhaps most significantly, at least for US-European relations, the British Government is distancing itself from Washington and calling for a cessation of hostilities.

Gaza Update (3 a.m. Israel/Palestine, 10 p.m. Eastern US): Pressing the Bombardment

As the Israeli assault enters its third day, the Israeli Defense Forces are widening their range of targets, in effect decimating the Gazan infrastructure, with more than 40 airstrikes on Sunday.

As the death toll neared 300, sites hit included the Islamic University in Gaza City, a government compound, the office of Gazan leader Ismail Haniya, the Beit Hanoun City Hall, and a warehouse supplying medicines. The Israelis also bombarded tunnels used to bring in goods from Egypt, tightening the economic blockade on Gaza, and hospitals are struggling to cope with the number of wounded.



The Israelis claim that more than 110 rockets were fired into southern Israel since Saturday morning, killing one man.

The United States maintained its forthright support of the Israeli operation on Sunday. Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, asserted, "Israel has the right to self-defense and nothing in this press statement should be read as anything but that."