Hamas declares victory over "Israeli" army

Source: alalam.ir, 03-03-2008
Gaza Strip-Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has declared the pullout of "Israeli" occupying troops from the Gaza Strip a "victory" Monday after five days of incursion that claimed the lives of more than 100 civilians in Gaza.
A Hamas spokesman said "the enemy has been defeated" after nearly all "Israeli" ground troops withdrew from the Palestinian territory.
"Israeli" occupying regime continued to pound Gaza on Monday after martyring at least 118 Palestinians and leaving countless more injured since the savage incursions erupted last Wednesday.
The Zionists' attacks continued despite an international outcry over the deadly onslaught that prompted Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas to cut off all so-called peace talks.
Some sources said "Israeli" armored vehicles have started to withdraw from the Jabaliya refugee camp north of Gaza City.
"Israeli" regime's authorities indicated that this was not the beginning of an all-out invasion, with war minister Ehud Barak saying "such an invasion was still possible, and "Israel" might try to topple 'the popular government of the resistance movement' Hamas".
Five Palestinian fighters were martyred early Monday in raids by "Israeli" aircraft and shelling of the Gaza Strip by the "Israeli" navy, Palestinian security officials said.
"Israeli" warplanes carried out five other raids against metal workshops throughout the Gaza Strip, after two earlier raids late Sunday had destroyed a metal workshop and injured one person.
Yet another air raid destroyed the headquarters of members of the Palestinian parliament in Khan Yunes in the south of the Strip, the officials said.
Eleven Palestinians, including a 21-month-old girl, were martyred in Gaza Sunday, and 10 others died of earlier wounds or were found dead.
Roughly half the victims of the raids since last Wednesday were civilians, the officials said. Two Zionist troopers and one civilian have also died.
Abbas put peace talks with the "Israeli" regime on hold, clouding an upcoming peace mission by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The Islamic resistance movement Hamas took steps to reduce the death toll, which reached 54 on Saturday alone.
They ordered children off the streets, kept civilians away from battle zones and told their fighters to use alleys for cover and avoid moving in large groups.
The normally bustling streets of Gaza City were eerily empty.
The sound of verses from the holy Quran, were sounded from mosque loudspeakers to soothe the stressed out Palestinians.
However, the sound was mingled with the roar of Zionist warplanes and unmanned drones in the sky.
In a symbolic move, Abbas donated blood for Gaza residents at his West Bank office.
The offensive in the coastal strip also drew a chorus of international condemnation.
The EU, Turkey and UN chief Ban Ki-Moon accused the occupying regime of using excessive force in Gaza. The UN Security Council urged "Israelis" and Palestinians "to immediately cease all acts of violence.''
At the weekly meeting of his Cabinet, Zionist Prime Minister Ehud Olmert shrugged off the criticism.
Olmert, commenting on the suspension of talks, claimed "attacking Hamas strengthens the chance for peace.''
The violence threatened Rice's visit this week. Olmert and Abbas have set a December target for concluding a final peace deal. But instead of promoting peace, she most likely will try to put out the latest fire.
Abbas remains firmly in control of the West Bank. But the death toll in Gaza threatens to unleash a backlash against him even there.
In the West Bank town of Al-Khalil, a 14-year-old Palestinian boy was fatally shot in the chest during a protest against Zionists, Palestinian medical officials said. It was the first death in the West Bank connected to the Gaza offensive.