Live blog: Gaza under attack

Israeli soldiers were being bussed down to the border in droves on Friday after an additional 18,000 soldiers were called up and Israeli authorities announced that Operation Protective Edge had been expanded into a ground offensive. That number is in addition to the 40,000 reservist already in position in southern Israel, with tanks and various other military equipment also rolling in.

An Israeli army spokesperson has said a soldier killed in Gaza was likely hit by friendly fire.

Moti Almoz said it "was a mistake by one of the tanks, that opened fire and killed Eitan Barak. We send our deep condolences to the family. We will continue to learn the lessons," according to the Times of Israel.

Barak is the second Israeli to have died since Israel launched their assault on Gaza on 7 July.

A "bus of peace" has left Jerusalem, carrying Israeli activists, to head for Gaza with a message of solidarity and dialogue.

The idea was inspired by Abie Nathan, a founder of "The Voice of Peace" radio station, who will be broadcasting calls for protests against violence from the bus.

A passenger on board, Amit Lavi, a resident of Jerusalem, told the UK-based charity Encompass Trust: "It's not an easy thing to do and there's a lot of thoughts about whether it's the right thing, but we're gonna do it [sic]. May peaceful days come soon."

"My prayers and heart are with you" he added, in a message to the people of Gaza.

The spokesperson for Gaza's Health Ministry says 279 people have now been killed in the Israeli assault on the coastal enclave, and the 2,205 have been injured.

The toll includes 65 children.

Protests in calling for an end to the Israeli assault on Gaza have been taking place around the world, beyond the Middle East and North Africa.

Italy

Sri Lanka

India

Mexico

Bahraini men protest against Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip on July 18, 2014, in the village of Diraz, west of Manama.  

(Photo credit: AFP)

Tunisian protesters demonstrate against Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip on July 18, 2014 on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in the capital Tunis.

(Photo credit: AFP)

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against Israeli military offensive in the Gaza strip on July 18, 2014 in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.

(Photo credit: AFP)

Following the tarawih prayer, Jordanians in the capital Amman stage a protest against the ongoing Israeli assaults on the Gaza Strip.

(Photo credit: Anadolu Agency)

People in France have slammed the government's decision to bar protests supporting Palestine, saying it is a shameful political decision.

Translation: “I am under shock demonstrating for Palestine in France is forbidden !!!!!! Where are we? Where is democracy????”

Translation: “@BCazeneuve ( Minister of the Interior) fell under the pressure of the lobby! To forbid to protest for peace in @Gaza @Palestine in @France is OUTRAGEOUS Shame on our leaders”

London Palestine Action, an activist group, has reportedly occupied a building of the Cabinet Office in London.

The group are demanding an arms embargo on Israel, in protest at their assault on Gaza.

The UK has sold £35 mn worth of arms to Israel over the past three years, according to Campaign Against the Arms Trade.

Translation:  [Interior minister] @BCazeneuve fell under the pressure of the lobby! To forbid to protest for peace in @Gaza @Palestine in @France is OUTRAGEOUS Shame on our leaders

Mohamad Elmasry's latest column for Middle East Eye, draws on wealth of academic studies that point to a consistent pro-Israeli media bias. 

According to an ongoing, but incomplete, analysis of this year’s violence by media monitoring group the Palestine Center, between 30 June and 9 July, CNN interviewed a total of 17 Israeli officials, but just one Palestinian official.

During the 2012 crisis, CNN interviewed 45 Israeli officials compared to just 20 Palestinian officials, while also using very different language for the two groups. Words with defensive connotations were often used for Israeli acts of aggression, but aggressive words were usually ascribed to Palestinian acts. 

France's socialist government has provoked outrage by becoming the first in the world to ban protests against Israeli action in Palestine, said Paris-based journalist Peter Allen.

In what is viewed as an outrageous attack on democracy, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said mass demonstrations planned for the weekend should be halted.

Cazeneuve said there was a "threat to public order", while opponents said he was "criminalising" popular support of the Palestinian people.

Thousands planned to march against the ongoing slaughter in Gaza, calling for an immediate end to hostilities in which civilians including many children have been killed.

Cazeneuve fears there might be a repeat of the fights between ultra Jewish vigilantes and pro-Palestinians which happened after a demonstration last Sunday.

Referring to the Paris march, Mr Cazeneuve said, "I consider that the conditions are not right to guarantee security."

He went on to welcome a legal procedure instigated by the Paris police prefecture to ban the march, despite it already being widely advertised.