JUST what has been going on in the Gaza Strip over the course of the last week? At first, Israel said its air strikes against Hamas and other Palestinian groups were simply acts of retaliation for rockets attacks carried out by militants. But even after Hamas had agreed to rein in its fighters, and resume the ceasefire to which the Islamic group have by and large been adhering, Israeli military operations and the arrest of Hamas activists continued.

That many of those taken into custody were candidates for parliamentary elections scheduled for January in which Hamas - especially in Gaza - are expected to do well, reveals the real reason behind Israel's unrelenting offensive. Martin Patience reports on the lengths to which Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is prepared to go to undermine Hamas and disrupt the elections.

This week investigations editor reports on the first accounts from American soldiers involved in torture in Iraq as they tell in graphic detail how they abused Iraqi prisoners. The continuing seep of information about abuses in Iraq has been a huge problem for the US government, which was hoping to draw a line under torture after the sentencing of the now notorious Private Lynndie England last week.

Russia certainly seems to be the land of plenty these days, albeit only for the 88,000 millionaires said to inhabit the former communist giant. In a country where the average monthly wage is around dollars-200, Andrew Osborn reveals how its not just Roman Abramovich who has the kind of ready mega bucks to spend on the likes of private helicopters, Bentleys and luxury bed spreads made from the pelts of white Arctic foxes.