Israel Solidifying Hold on Gaza, but Suffers First Soldier Death

The Israeli offensive may already be paying dividends. At a Cabinet meeting today, Yuval Diskin, the head of Israel's security service, Shin Bet, told government officials that Hamas had eased its demands on a cease-fire, according to the newspaper Haaretz. Even so, international pressure for a cease-fire persisted -- though on ABC News' "This Week With George Stephanopoulos" today, Israeli President Shimon Peres rejected the idea, perhaps a sign from Israel's leadership that the fighting is far from over.

Israeli infantry soldiers crouch as they prepare to walk into Gaza on Jan. 4, 2009.

(Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)
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"If there is somebody [who] can stop terror with a different strategy, we shall accept it," Peres said. "We shall not accept the idea that Hamas will continue to fire [rockets at Israel] and we shall declare a cease-fire. It does not make any sense."

Protests and Calls for a Cease-Fire

On Saturday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon expressed strong reservations about the Israeli ground operation. After speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Ban released a statement saying he "conveyed his extreme concern and disappointment."

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The secretary-general also said he is "convinced and alarmed that this escalation will inevitably increase the already heavy suffering of the affected civilian populations."

Today, he added in a new statement, "Given the crucial juncture at which we have arrived in the search for a cease-fire, I appeal to all members of the international community to display the unity and commitment required to bring this escalating crisis to an end. "

Worldwide protests also have demanded an end to Israel's offensive.

In the West Bank today, an Israeli solider shot and killed a 22-year-old Palestinian man violently protesting by throwing rocks.

In Ramallah in the West Bank, a couple thousand Palestinians took to the streets in protest of the Israeli ground operation.

In Istanbul, Turkey, and Rabat, Morocco, enormous peaceful protests brought hundreds of thousands demonstrators onto the streets.

In London, where on Saturday thousands of anti-war protesters hurled shoes at the British Parliament building and at the entrance to Number 10 Downing Street, the prime minister's official residence, British Prime Minster Gordon Brown called the Israeli ground invasion "an escalation" and renewed his call for an immediate cease-fire in a BBC Radio interview.