Israel Sends Tanks Back to Gaza

Staff / Truthdig Jan 28, 2009 Israel launched an airstrike and ground assault into Gaza after a bomb on the Israeli side of the border killed a soldier. The troops pulled back into Israel soon afterward, according to the BBC. The raid was of a smaller scale than the fighting that ended just 10 days ago, but shows the difficult work ahead for George Mitchell, the new U.S. envoy, who is headed to the region. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Gaza Ad Stirs Controversy Across the Pond

Staff / Truthdig Jan 27, 2009 Two of Britain's biggest networks, Sky and the BBC, have refused to air a two-minute fundraising appeal on behalf of Gaza The decision not to broadcast the spot, produced by a committee made up of Britain's biggest aid agencies, has triggered public outcry, condemnation from politicians and a formal investigation by the BBC Trust. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

With Gaza, Journalists Fail Again

Chris Hedges / Truthdig Jan 26, 2009 The assault on Gaza exposed not only Israel’s callous disregard for international law but the gutlessness of the American press. Nearly all reporters were, as during the buildup to the Iraq war, pliant stenographers and echo chambers. Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

Israeli PM Promises to Shield Troops From War Crime Trials

Staff / Truthdig Jan 25, 2009 The BBC reports: "Any Israeli soldiers accused of war crimes in the Gaza Strip will be given state protection from prosecution overseas, the country's PM has said." At issue is Israel's use of white phosphorous, a chemical agent that is not permitted in densely populated areas because it sticks to and severely burns human tissue. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pursuing Peace in the Middle East, Obama Style

Staff / Truthdig Jan 23, 2009 President Obama didn't wait long to tackle one of the most intractable items in his in box: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict On a whirlwind Thursday, Obama spoke to leaders in the region (minus Hamas), called for an end to the Gaza blockade and appointed George Mitchell (above), the man who brokered a truce in Northern Ireland, as Mideast envoy. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Israeli Troops Finally Out?

Staff / Truthdig Jan 21, 2009 About 1,300 Palestinians dead, $2 billion in damage and thousands of devastated families later, Israel claims it has officially pulled its troops from the Gaza Strip after its three-week assault -- with no formal deal between Israel and Hamas and thus no real change in relations between the two sides. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Israel Admits It ‘May Have Used’ Chemical Weapon

Staff / Truthdig Jan 21, 2009 Following accusations by human rights groups last week, Israel has finally admitted that its troops "may have used" white phosphorus shells -- a chemical agent that wreaks havoc on the skin -- in contravention of international law. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Ban Ki-Moon Calls for ‘Full Investigation’ of Gaza Bombing

Staff / Truthdig Jan 21, 2009 United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon toured several decimated sites in Gaza on Tuesday, including the remains of the U compound in Gaza City destroyed last Thursday in an attack The Israeli shelling of the compound has drawn strong international criticism -- not the least of which came from Ban himself both before and during Tuesday's visit. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

It’s Over — and Not a Moment Too Soon

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Jan 20, 2009 George W. Bush promised to restore "honor and dignity" to the White House, but he leaves with less honor and with lower public approval than any other president since Richard Nixon. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Time for a War Crimes Tribunal?

Robert Fisk / Truthdig Jan 20, 2009 It's a wrap, a doddle, an Israeli cease-fire just in time for Barack Obama to have a squeaky-clean inauguration with all the world looking at the streets of Washington rather than the rubble of Gaza. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Sizing Up the Damage in Gaza

Staff / Truthdig Jan 19, 2009 Now that the war in Gaza has ground to a halt, local and international groups are assessing the needs of tens of thousands of embattled and displaced Palestinians, some of whom have gone for many days without water or power, and are preparing to send aid as soon as possible. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Peace Is in the Eye of the Beholder

Chris Hedges / Truthdig Jan 19, 2009 I do not like Hamas. I detest religious fundamentalism and the use of suicide bombers. I find the group’s anti-Semitism and ruthless silencing of internal Palestinian opponents repugnant. The rocket attacks on Israeli civilians are a war crime. But this does not negate the legitimacy of Palestinian resistance to the long Israeli siege and occupation of Gaza. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )