Headlines for January 20, 2009

from Democracy Now!

Israel Declares Unilateral Ceasefire After 22-Day Attack on Gaza

In other news, Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire on Saturday, ending a twenty-two-day assault on Gaza that killed more than 1,300 Palestinians, most of them civilians and at least one-third children. Hamas followed with a declaration of a one-week ceasefire until Israel withdraws all its troops. Thirteen Israelis died during the twenty-two-day war, including four Israeli soldiers by friendly fire. Israel called off its attack after the Bush administration signed a deal promising increased US cooperation in halting arms smuggling into Gaza. The incoming Obama administration also backed the agreement.

4,000 Palestinian Homes Destroyed

The damage to Gaza’s infrastructure is estimated in the billions. More than 4,000 homes have been destroyed. At least 400,000 people are still without running water.

Palestinian Woman: “All our homes have been destroyed. Even this little boy does not have a home. What is his fault? Look at him. What do they want from us? Our houses? Why do they want to destroy them? Why do they destroy our homes?”

Israel Bombs Another UN School, Two Boys Killed

Hours before the Israeli cabinet announced its ceasefire Saturday night, Israeli forces bombed another UN school used as a shelter for Palestinian civilians. Two boys were killed. Their mother was badly wounded, with the attack blowing off both her legs. It was the fourth Israeli bombing of a UN school in the three-week assault.

Doctor: Israel Destroyed Warehouses of Medical Supplies

Over the weekend, a Greek doctor in Gaza named Kostas Konstantinidis accused Israel of destroying warehouses of medical supplies.

Dr. Kostas Konstantinidis: “Even the humanitarian aid is bombarded by the Israeli air force. They are destroying the warehouses where we keep the medical and all the pharmaceutical containers. Even those things, they are bombarding them. They are bombarding hospitals. They are bombarding everything. Even in the borders, where there are these kind of tunnels and they are suspecting that probably we can pass from there some humanitarian aid, they are bombing with these special bombs that bring these earthquakes.”