Meanwhile, in Afghanistan....

Pointed reminders of the crises beyond Gaza have come from Afghanistan today. A suicide bombing outside the German Embassy in Kabul has killed at least three people, including a US soldier, and injured 23, including six American troops and an American civilian.

Now news is coming through that small-arms fire has downed a US helicopter, killing at least one US soldier.

Meanwhile, In Independent Iraq...At Least 40 Killed in Bombing

A female suicide bomber attacked a Shi'a pilgrimage in northwest Baghdad on Sunday, killing 40 and wounded at least 70.

The pilgrimage was for the holy period of Ashura, which commemorates the martyrdom of Hussein, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad. Ashura is on 7 January, and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are expected in Baghdad and Karbala.