Jerusalem – Netanyahu Declares Victory In Gaza War

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon (C) and IDF CHief of STaff Benny Gantz (R) seen at a press conference at the Prime Minister office in Jerusalem on August 27, 2014. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 Jerusalem – Israel’s prime minister declared victory Wednesday in the recent war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, saying the military campaign had dealt a heavy blow and a cease-fire deal gave no concessions to the Islamic militant group.

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Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments, delivered in a prime-time address on national television, appeared aimed at countering critics of the seven-week war that killed more than 2,200 people.

Both hard-liners in his governing coalition, as well as residents of rocket-scarred southern Israel, have said the war was a failure because it did not halt Hamas’ rocket attacks or oust the group from power.

“Hamas was hit hard,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel “didn’t agree to accept any of Hamas’ demands” under the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire deal.

The ambiguous cease-fire delivered an immediate halt in the fighting and has promised an easing of Israel’s blockade of Gaza to allow humanitarian aid and construction goods to enter for the rebuilding of the territory. All goods are to go in under international supervision.

But Hamas’ key demands are only to be addressed in a future round of talks expected next month in Cairo. Hamas is seeking an end to the Israeli blockade, including the reopening of Gaza’s sea and airport. It also wants Egypt to reopen its Rafah border crossing, the territory’s main gateway to the outside world. Israel, meanwhile, wants Hamas to be disarmed.

Netanyahu said Israel “will not tolerate” any more rocket fire, and if the attacks resume, “we will respond even harder.”

Israel carried out thousands of airstrikes and other attacks on Hamas targets in the war. More than 2,000 Palestinians were killed, most of them civilians, according to U.N. and Palestinian figures. On the Israeli side, 70 people were killed, all but six soldiers.

Israel says Hamas is responsible for the heavy Palestinian civilian death toll, noting that militants carried out attacks from residential areas and often used apartment buildings, mosques or schools for cover. The Israeli attacks destroyed or damaged thousands of buildings, leaving an estimated 100,000 people homeless.

Despite the heavy damage, Hamas also has claimed victory, saying the Israeli assault failed to stop its rocket and mortar fire. It has boasted that it forced thousands of Israelis living in border communities to evacuate their homes, and that it controlled when the people could come home.

In Gaza, masked militants gathered on the rubble of destroyed homes in the Shijaiyah neighborhood, site of some of the heaviest fighting, to declare victory. The men displayed heavy machine guns, mortar shells, rockets and anti-tank missiles. Hundreds of residents gathered around the militants, taking pictures with them and their weapons.

Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the Hamas military wing, stood over an Israeli flag as he addressed the crowd.

“Gaza achieved victory because it has done what major armies failed to do. It forced the enemy to retreat,” he said. “We must know that no voice is louder than the voice of the resistance.”


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Benjey
Benjey
9 years ago

Go back to sleep bibi

bennyt
bennyt
9 years ago

Victory, Bibi? You can’t be serious. Hamas can still fire rockets at any time and into any city of its choosing. Does that sound like victory??? You said that you would disarm Hamas this time around and, instead, we sacrificed 64 soldiers for naught! The end result is that, once again, Hamas comes out of this as the warriors who stood up against the mighty IDF, totally won the PR war in the media and will now receive billions of dollars in “humanitarian” aid from sympathetic countries around the world so that the majority of it can be siphoned off by Abbas and Hamas to rearm and rebuild what Israel destroyed. It’s a given that most of the cement that they will now be receiving to rebuild the thousands of destroyed homes, buildings and infrastructure will be diverted to rebuild their terror tunnels. This turned out to be a joke of a war with Hamas laughing at Israel. The residents of the southern towns will never return to their homes in which they can feel safe. The ONLY way that Hamas can be stopped is by taking back Gaza and the sooner Bibi musters up the guts to do that, the sooner Israelis will feel safe to live in their land.

RebKlemson
RebKlemson
9 years ago

everyone won. sounds believable

Anominous
Anominous
9 years ago

I think we should give praise to Hashem in that we were saved from terrible catastrophes. The tunnels could have done tremendous killing. We have to be very thankful for the anti-rocket technology which also saved many lives. Thank you Hashem for being with us in this time of threat. You saved us from much bloodshed. You enabled us to do significant damage to our enemies and weaken them. Please Hashem, help us to completely eliminate all of our enemies so that we can serve you in peace. Boruch Katina

Liepa
Liepa
9 years ago

With Hamas’s attitude, we are back to square one in about 2 to 3 years!

Liepa
Liepa
9 years ago

Only complete and utter annihilation will work with these vermin!

JackC
JackC
9 years ago

And Governor Rockafeller declared that the LIRR was the best railroad in the country.

9 years ago

AND I DECLARE VICTORY OVER EBALLA!!!!
thanks you all for listening…

abilenetx
abilenetx
9 years ago

I guess Bibi called Obama and he was given permission to stop. This reminds me of another Prime minister who was brain dead for how many years because he gave away land (piece for peace) and Bibi just gave away Israel, Peace for Piece.
I wonder how Bibi’s health has been lately.

PaulinSaudi
PaulinSaudi
9 years ago

When a country wins a war, they do not need to announce it. Everyone already knows it.

Godol-Hador
Godol-Hador
9 years ago

The Godol Hador declares:

Mr Netanyahu is just another in the long line of foolish Israeli politicians, who think they can play games with the Israeli public.
He talks big and tough and gives in at the slightest nuance from any western govt. including those who are not friendly nor beneficial to Israel.

TexasJew
TexasJew
9 years ago

What is everyone’s problem? It’s just a ceasefire like the other 12. Israel didn’t give in to anything but a cessation of fire. The next month they will negotiate and then we will see what happens.
I don’t believe Netanyahu is weak. His gov’t will negotiate and not give up anything to these animals.
Have B’tachone.

Conscience
Conscience
9 years ago

No , they will claim a loss , how stupid are we