Top Hamas Leader: We are Victors

Source: Agencies: 31-1-2009

A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip exploded in a field near the settlement of Askalan, the army said on Saturday, but there were no casualties or damage reported.
It is the third rocket attack since ceasefires on January 18.

"Israel" had launched its war on Gaza on the 27th of December allegedly to stop rocket fire into occupied territories and change the status-quo in the Strip.

A senior member of the Hamas leadership on Friday made his first public appearance since independent ceasefires were declared by "Israel" and Hamas.

Khalil Al-Hayya told supporters at a rally that the group had achieved victory in the war and was now engaged in a political battle.
"We promised to come out to you either as martyrs or as victors," Hayya told supporters. "Today I come out to you and you are victors."

Hayya reassured Palestinians whose houses had been destroyed by "Israel". "The reconstruction is coming, do not be worried about that," he said, adding the Hamas government intended to pay the salaries of its employees. "I tell the resistance fighters, I tell the Qassam fighters, do not drop your weapons, do not put your weapons aside and do not abandon your trenches," Hayya said.

"I assure our people that the leaders who led the battle of victory are now leading the battle of politics. We are still in the midst of the battle and we are engaging politically," he said.

Hamas had not yielded on its demands that the "Israeli" blockade of the Gaza be lifted and Gaza's borders opened to normal trade, he said.

Hayya reaffirmed his group's demands to conclude a prisoner swap with "Israel" that would see the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for the return of "Israeli" captured soldier Gilad Shalit.
"Gilad Shalit will never see the light and life until our prisoners see the light among their families," he said.