300.000 Kurds for Gaza Against Israeli Massacre

Carrying Palestinian flags and banners calling for freedom, nearly 15,000 people participated in a demonstration in New York on Saturday in protest of ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza, which have so far claimed the lives of 460 people.

Zaman: A front-page story in the daily yesterday reported that Israel, which has been hitting Gaza with aerial strikes for over a week, launched a ground offensive into the city in the evening hours on Saturday. Sources from the Israeli army said the second phase of the offensive had been launched and that it would continue for as long as necessary. There are concerns that Israel will escalate its massacre in Gaza, where it has killed 460 people so far. Palestinians whom the daily spoke with by telephone said they were trying to take shelter in the corners of their houses in order to protect themselves from the Israeli strikes.

Sabah: In a headline story yesterday, the daily reported that according to a bill that is on Parliament's agenda, brothers of soldiers killed in the fight against terrorism will not be obliged to perform military service, which is mandatory for all males above the age of 20 in Turkey. According to the bill, if a soldier loses his life in a situation not involving terrorism, only one of his brothers will be exempt from military service. If this bill becomes law, families who lose one of their sons in military service will be prevented from experiencing the same pain again, said the daily.

Taraf: Commenting on the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation's (TRT) launch of a Kurdish TV channel, TRT 6, pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) co-chairperson Emine Ayna said the channel's launch was the success of the Kurdish people and not the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party). TRT 6 began broadcasting on Jan. 1 in a bid on the part of the state to reconcile with its Kurdish citizens. Ayna said the launch of the Kurdish channel was a "wonderful gain" achieved through the struggle of the Kurds. She said the DTP was opposed to the AK Party using this initiative as an election investment and ending the DTP's political existence.