They're still pulling the bodies of Palestinian women and children from the ruins of Gaza, more than 1300 killed, an estimated 5000 people wounded, more than a billion dollars worth of damage to apartment towers, hospitals, schools, streets, crops, parks. The devastation Israel has left behind has shocked the shit out of the war-hardened journalists Israel has kept locked out of Gaza for three weeks. Now they're starting to get access and are meeting the victims. The stories are like something out of World War 2.
The history books will record this horror as another failed war by Israel. Hamas has won international sympathy, on behalf of the Gazans, who will now likely back them in even stronger numbers than when they won elections in 2006.
Here's Hamas declaring victory :
Hamas Claim They Only Lost 48 Fighters In WarSenior Hamas leader Ismail Haniya said the Gaza war with Israel amounted to a "great victory" for the Palestinians, in a televised speech on Sunday.
"God has granted us a great victory, not for one faction, or party, or area, but for our entire people," said Haniya, the prime minister appointed by the Islamist movement Hamas in the impoverished territory.
"We have stopped the aggression and the enemy has failed to achieve any of its goals," he added, less than 24 hours after Israeli halted a massive offensive on Gaza that killed more than 1,300 Palestinians.
"The groups of the resistance have decided to halt their fire in Gaza so that the enemy army can completely withdraw," he said."The decision proves that the resistance was correct and responsible, and works according to the interests of our people."
Israeli troops began withdrawing from Gaza after the ceasefire took effect at 2am on Sunday (1100 AEDT Sunday) but the Jewish state has said its military will return fire if attacked...
Hamas Checkmates Israel
London Review Of Books Contributors On The Massacre Of Gaza
"No Really, God Told Me To Kill All Those Women And Children"
John J. Mearsheimer : Another War, Another Defeat
Insane New Yorkers Lust For Arab Blood
Israel Loses Propaganda War By Forcing Journalists To Watch Al Jazeera
It Is A Religious War : Most IDF Soldiers Dedicated Jewish Zionists
