Grim statistics

Has Israel made efforts to target combatants in Gaza and avoid civilians?

A New York Times analysis of 1,431 deaths finds "that the population most likely to be militants, men ages 20 to 29, is also the most overrepresented in the death toll: They are 9 percent of Gaza’s 1.7 million residents, but 34 percent of those killed whose ages were provided. At the same time, women and children under 15, the least likely to be legitimate targets, were the most underrepresented, making up 71 percent of the population and 33 percent of the known-age casualties."

A BBC analysis is here.

Palestinian rights

A vote on extending the rights of Palestinians in Lebanon has been postponed.  At present, they are denied the right to own property, do not qualify for health care, and are banned by Lebanese law from working in a large number of jobs. 

Update: Lebanon's parliament has passed a law which will allow Palestinian refugees to work legally, but they will still be unable to work in the public sector or in professions such as medicine, law or engineering. They will also continue to be denied access to Lebanese state medical and educational facilities, and will be unable to buy property.

Muslims fighting for Israel

Maher is Muslim and he was a soldier with the Israeli army for three years. Rachid Sekkai from the BBC's Arabic Service talks to Muslims serving in the Israel Defense Forces and hears about the conflicts they face, at home and on duty, and the pride that military service sometimes brings them. (Podcast)

Ambassador of music

At the Cairo Opera House, Israeli musician Daniel Barenboim received 'a rapturous reception'.