The demonstrators were united in their determination not just to protest at this latest outrage by Israel but to call for an end to the siege of Gaza and for justice for all Palestinians.

We have a right to exist, and will continue to exist as a reminder that we have a land, somewhere in Palestine, that has been stolen, and we have the right to demand it back.

Israel has kept Palestinians of Gaza in the world's largest outdoor prison and kept them under an illegal blockade aimed at limiting their nutrition without altogether starving them to death.

"There is an unprecedented mood among the people. We lost a lot, we are bleeding, but there is this feeling that we made it, that this was a victory."

Rarely would a state get such an easy run from the media after killing so many civilians, many of whom were children, in what the BBC now calls the 'flare-up' of violence.

The question, is how did a ceasefire get declared just at the moment when by all the ordinary laws of Israeli politics bombardment should have been followed by invasion of Gaza.

It's not the first time Ronaldo has given to Gaza. Last year he sold most of his sports shoes at a Real Madrid Foundation auction which was also dedicated to raising funds for schools in Gaza.

It's the duty of anyone who gets assassinated to make sure they're in a clear, open space at all times so the cruise missile aimed at them doesn't bump into anyone else.

Gazans are an occupied people and have the right to resist, including by armed force (though not to target civilians), while Israel is an occupying power that has an obligation to withdraw.

Events are sanitized so as not to be controversial and upset the wrong people by humanizing the conflict -- for fear that it will make you look sympathetic to the Palestinians.

After 1,643 Israeli missile strikes in six days with 364 missiles fired by the Israeli navy, 1,114 air strikes and 165 artillery shells: who was killed? how many injured? how many buildings destroyed?

How many have we lost so far, a hundred? There will be more. And why is this taking place? Because the Israelis are having an election soon and their leaders want to look tough.

For the first time in American history, Obama warned Israel that the US would halt all military and economic aid if it did not stop its 'unconscionable assault' on Gaza. Or did he?

Once again Israel is engaging in its timeworn tactic of using overwhelming force as a tool of psychological intimidation, not just of "terrorists" and "militants" but of the civilian population.

It is as if everyone realizes, but will never state, that we are engaged in an elaborate charade, a pageant of gesture and indication, where substance and specific meaning have been banned.

Israeli aggression is possible only because of direct, affirmative, unstinting US diplomatic, financial and military support for Israel and everything it does.