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Last update - 02:42 19/01/2009
Haniyeh: Hamas won Gaza war, but was wise to declare truce
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent and Agencies
Tags: Israel News, Gaza, Hamas, IDF

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said on Sunday that Israel's three-week offensive in the Gaza Strip was a failure and had not cowed the Palestinians, but praised his movement for deciding to declare a cease-fire.



"The enemy has failed to achieve its goals," Ismail Haniyeh, the top Hamas leader in the territory, said in a speech broadcast on Hamas television.
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Though he called the war, in which more than 1,300 Gazans and 13 Israelis died, a "popular victory" for Palestinians, Haniyeh said Hamas's decision to declare a truce on Sunday was "wise and responsible".

Hamas announced an immediate cease-fire by its militants and allied groups in Gaza on Sunday, giving Israel a week to pull out its troops from the coastal territory.

Israel, which mounted an offensive against Hamas three weeks ago to halt years of rocket attacks, agreed to silence its guns and ground its aircraft early Sunday.

"We the Palestinian resistance factions declare a cease-fire from our side in Gaza and we confirm our stance that the enemy's troops must withdraw from Gaza within a week," said Damascus-based Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk.

Ayman Taha, a Hamas official in Cairo for talks with Egypt on a truce deal,
demanded that Israel open all of Gaza'sw border crossings to allow in food and other goods to meet the "basic needs for our people."

The cease-fire came after 22 days of fighting that killed some 1,200 Palestinians, about half of them civilians, according to Palestinian and United Nations officials. Ten Israeli soldiers and three Israeli civilians were killed during the campaign.

Israel said earlier on Sunday that it will not consider a timetable for withdrawing all of its forces from the Gaza Strip until Hamas and other militants cease their fire.

A leader of the militant Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip on Sunday said his group had also agreed to stop attacks on Israelis for a period of one week, following Israel's declaration of the unilateral cease-fire.

Daoud Shihab, the Islamic Jihad official, said other smaller militant groups have also agreed to join the truce. There has been no immediate response from Israel.

Shihab told The Associated Press that the factions will jointly make a formal announcement later on Sunday.

Shihab also said a longer cease-fire would be conditional on Israel withdrawing from Gaza the troops it sent into the Strip two weeks ago.

The Hamas announcement came after Gaza militants on Sunday fired at least 17 rockets into Israel, lightly wounding one man. One of Israel's stated goals in the campaign, code-named Operation Cast Lead, was the cessation of cross-border rocket fire.


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      1.   PEACE IN MIDWEST 14:37  |  DAVIDE 18/01/09
      2.   Who does Hamas think it is?!?!?!?! 14:49  |  A. Non 18/01/09
      3.   Extremely clever ploy by HAMAS 14:54  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/01/09
      4.   Get Gilad out! 14:55  |  Ros 18/01/09
      5.   Ship in Fatah policemen from Westbank 16:41  |  Danny 18/01/09
      6.   they`re TERRORISTS, not militants 16:43  |  Ephraim Windstock 18/01/09
      7.   civilians, terrorists, army. mishmash 19:13  |  charro 18/01/09
      8.   gilad must to get out 19:14  |  charro 18/01/09
      9.   I COULD ALMOST CRY FOR GAZANS 21:10  |  Ian 18/01/09
      10.   Of course Hamas won 00:09  |  David 19/01/09
      11.   keeping hamas alive 00:11  |  walid 19/01/09
      12.   Why do arabs have such a twisted definition of victory? 00:16  |  Headly 19/01/09
      13.   as in Lebanon 00:29  |  natan 19/01/09
      14.   This is Gaza`s Leadership 00:29  |  Ron 19/01/09
      15.   00:29  |  Ben 19/01/09
      16.   Important messaged on the radio 00:33  |  Gideon Reader 19/01/09
      17.   A quick response that tells all 00:34  |  Mark Lincoln 19/01/09
      18.   Forgotten Army Soldier 00:34  |  Paul Simpson 19/01/09
      19.   Haniyeh & Gang of 4 00:40  |  The Teacher/Instruct 19/01/09
      20.   Haniyeh: Hamas won Gaza war, but was wise to declare truce 00:42  |  ChanahS 19/01/09
      21.   Haniyeh: Hamas is victorious 00:46  |  jn 19/01/09
      22.   Victory 00:47  |  ross 19/01/09
      23.   Hamas won Israel lost again 02:01  |  Eugenio 19/01/09
      24.   It certainly is a victory for Hamas 02:03  |  Arab 19/01/09
      25.   Same old tactics 02:04  |  not funny 19/01/09
      26.   Ephraim # 6 U are right , they are not terrorists, they 02:07  |  American in NY 19/01/09
      27.   Linthwaite Hamas never had international sympathy 02:35  |  ME 19/01/09
      28.   Great Vivtory for Hamas!!! 02:49  |  BenK 19/01/09
      29.   Haniyeh must be smoking crack or hard drugs 02:57  |  Moishe 19/01/09
      30.   #24--Mr Arab--I`ve got news for you! 03:12  |  US CITIZEN 19/01/09
      31.   dear arab if this and Lebanon is victory I cant imagine what 03:13  |  Jack 19/01/09
      32.   No doubt Arabs always win any war ! 03:19  |  Romy 19/01/09
      33.   What a "victory" 03:29  |  Gaston 19/01/09
      34.   Haniyeh: `Time to Pass out the Candy` 03:33  |  Lolek 19/01/09
      35.   Hamas won 03:39  |  Mike 19/01/09
      36.   Cast Lead May have been prevented had 03:45  |  Joseph.E 19/01/09
      37.   Gaza 04:30  |  Sven 19/01/09
      38.   Response to Arab 05:05  |  judith 19/01/09
      39.   Speaking to a different agenda 05:06  |  allang 19/01/09
      40.   Hamas victory 05:07  |  Randy 19/01/09
      41.   Hamas` version of victory is spelled d-e-f-e-a-t 05:46  |  Jeff 19/01/09
      42.   Hamas 05:47  |  lila 19/01/09
      43.   So what does defeat look like in Hamas land? 05:50  |  JV 19/01/09
      44.   An impressive for hamas indeed!! 06:10  |  mk 19/01/09
      45.   Mazel Tov Hamas 06:11  |  Yankel Moscowitz 19/01/09
      46.   Seek Peace Honestly 06:19  |  Serge 19/01/09
      47.   AMin NY Freedom fighters do not have a written genocide agenda 06:22  |  PETER SM 19/01/09
      48.   HAHA yankel 07:32  |  judith 19/01/09
      49.   Hamas Victory - They hit me until they were tired 07:49  |  Reid 19/01/09
      50.   Who won Gaza invasion 08:43  |  Hamid Karzai 19/01/09
      51.   # 24 Arab 08:59  |  Ron 19/01/09
      52.   haniyeh:hamas won gaza war but was wise to declare truce 09:04  |  debra 19/01/09
      53.   Hamas lost decisively and militarily in spite of bravado 09:44  |  Michael 19/01/09
      54.   The Hamas John Cleese victory 09:50  |  Peter Williams 19/01/09
      55.   An interesting victory... 10:15  |  The Judge 19/01/09
      56.   Peter Williams 10:40  |  TonyL 19/01/09
      57.   A classic Israeli "Victory" 10:41  |  Natallie Durson 19/01/09
      58.   I don`t understand, if they WON, 11:00  |  Gil 19/01/09
      59.   Haniyeh:Hamas won Gaza war 11:01  |  Inem 19/01/09
      60.   PEACE 11:05  |  buge 19/01/09
      61.   TV news: Hamas cleims to have lost only 46 militants... 11:14  |  Esther 19/01/09
      62.   #59 Buge in Jakarta Peace... Shalom.....Salaam 11:21  |  Ari ben Yisrael 19/01/09
      63.   Peter Williams Hamas John Cleese 11:31  |  Sheikh Rattle & Roll 19/01/09
      64.   Hamas victory 12:19  |  bill usa 19/01/09
      65.   Shocking 12:27  |  Dhimi Hendrix 19/01/09
      66.   psycologists needed for peace 12:31  |  aedi 19/01/09
      67.   Sounds loony, but it`s fairly accurate 12:45  |  David 19/01/09
      68.   Hamas Freedom fighters 12:55  |  Danny 19/01/09
      69.   Israelis should know!!! 12:56  |  Mile 19/01/09
      70.   Dogs that bark don`t bite 13:13  |  ScotGuy 19/01/09
      71.   We all know who really won 13:41  |  Sam Bell 19/01/09
      72.   This Haniyeh bloke is a joke ! 14:13  |  Benjamina 19/01/09
      73.   Why they won 15:14  |  Joe Giladi 19/01/09
      74.   Response to No. 68 15:28  |  Karim 19/01/09
      75.   Loss for all 15:56  |  Dani 19/01/09
      76.   We both lost the war... 16:06  |  Palestinian 19/01/09
      77.   to BUGE, Jakarta 16:07  |  Dani 19/01/09
      78.   Karim 70 16:15  |  ChanahS 19/01/09
      79.   It certainly is a victory for Hamas 16:53  |  Jordan 19/01/09
      80.   He brought disaster to his people and he claims victory 17:03  |  Shalom Freedman 19/01/09
      81.   BARBAR 17:04  |  Ali 19/01/09
      82.   Prisoner exchange 17:10  |  Justagerman 19/01/09
      83.   Israel`s victory 17:11  |  Shalom Freedman 19/01/09
      84.   76 Palestinian - "It was a dumb war." All wars are dumb... 17:15  |  common sense 19/01/09
      85.   hamid karzai in afghanistan,ignorant thingkin like your is why 17:31  |  terornator 19/01/09
      86.   Hamas` declared victory 17:35  |  Rabbi Shael Siegel 19/01/09
      87.   Hamas is filled with retards 18:21  |  Norman 19/01/09
      88.   Congratulations to Hamas 18:25  |  Jay A Friedman 19/01/09
      89.   Mark Lincoln tries to read tea leaves from his coffee cup 18:27  |  Jacob Blues 19/01/09
      90.   Mark Lincoln and negotiations 18:31  |  Jacob Blues 19/01/09
      91.   It was wise to declare truce for sure! 18:41  |  Stanger 19/01/09
      92.   To the Israelis that claim they won, I dare you to move to Sderot 19:03  |  Aounist 19/01/09
      93.   Hamas Lost 19:14  |  ID 19/01/09
      94.   No. 85 Notrman Idf made Humus froim Hamas 19:16  |  Big Sur 19/01/09
      95.   HamAss is no entity after the war 19:20  |  Dan 19/01/09
      96.   98 Aounist is moving to Gaza city 19:22  |  Big Sur 19/01/09
      97.   hamas won!!!! 19:35  |  Adrian de Klerk 19/01/09
      98.   ARAB VICTORY?I DON`T THINK SO 19:58  |  Ian 19/01/09
      99.   Yes natalie, israel won 20:51  |  arik 19/01/09
      100.   QUassams and the rediculous Hamass 20:52  |  Big Sur 19/01/09
      101.   Rockets 21:17  |  P. J. Casey 19/01/09
      102.   #26 American in NY 21:22  |  H 19/01/09
      103.   #92 Aounist 21:29  |  H 19/01/09
      104.   Mr. Lincoln stop treating us like.... 21:35  |  Gaza Bar and Grill 19/01/09
      105.   # 2nd post for 102. Hamas in bunkers, eh? 22:31  |  Maureen Annf 19/01/09
      106.   Hamas won only the PR war, nothing more 22:32  |  DesMnsDave 19/01/09
      107.   Gaza Bar and Grill 22:37  |  Kerry 19/01/09
      108.   P.J. Casey 22:38  |  Kerry 19/01/09
      109.   Karim from Tyre 23:07  |  Reid 19/01/09
      110.   Big Sur 23:12  |  arik 19/01/09
      111.   Be Proud Israel 23:17  |  Raoul 19/01/09
      112.   Mark Lincoln 23:29  |  TonyL 19/01/09
      113.   One more such victory, and Hamas is lost 23:32  |  Morris Valentine 19/01/09
      114.   to Buge #60 23:33  |  Oceanios 19/01/09
      115.   Haniyeh is and delusional and the world knows it 23:48  |  N Michael Ross 19/01/09
      116.   stupid argument 23:56  |  AJ 19/01/09
      117.   Haaretz not reporting Hamas` torture of Fatah as in today`s J.P.? 23:56  |  just wondering 19/01/09
      118.   Why isn`t Haaretz reporting Hamas`s murder of their own? 00:02  |  just wondering 20/01/09
      119.   Moron Ann and bunkers 00:09  |  SDHD 20/01/09
      120.   Hamas won UNEQUIVOCALLY in MANY respects 00:11  |  Begood 20/01/09
      121.   To Israel: Now is Your Time to Say It Loudly 00:14  |  Dav Lev 20/01/09
      122.   Maureen Ann (is it with an "f" now?) 00:15  |  fiona 20/01/09
      123.   Gaza Bar and Grill 00:42  |  Mark Lincoln 20/01/09
      124.   Continuous Victory for Hamas will wipe out population 00:45  |  Trish 20/01/09
      125.   There are a number of people to blame 00:53  |  Mark Lincoln 20/01/09
      126.   It`s a laughable statement but absolutely tragic! 01:03  |  Pageal 20/01/09
      127.   It is sad to admit but terrorist won 01:26  |  Max 20/01/09
      128.   #114 fiona. "f" 01:32  |  Maureen Ann 20/01/09
      129.   Mark Lincoln GB&G fake 01:46  |  Roo 20/01/09
      130.   Gazan`s got what they wanted. 02:09  |  Solomon 20/01/09
      131.   #103 Maureen Ann - Since you never went 02:30  |  *BEN JABO 20/01/09
      132.   How to keep score, by Hamas. 02:40  |  leo 20/01/09
      133.   Hanyeh the cat 02:45  |  Dwido 20/01/09
      134.   #110just wondering Why isn`t Haaretz reporting.. 03:05  |  K 20/01/09
      135.   re 57 So Israel did not win 03:21  |  Alan the real one 20/01/09
      136.   #115 Mark Lincoln...just a short note 03:42  |  Lynn 20/01/09
      137.   Hamas won? 03:43  |  Barry 20/01/09
      138.   Response to David from England 04:04  |  Alfred 20/01/09
      139.   Haniyyeh 04:09  |  Abe 20/01/09
      140.   victory 04:10  |  Dave 20/01/09
      141.   Mark Lincoln re: Gaza bar & grill 04:43  |  TonyL 20/01/09
      142.   re: #11 Keeping Hamas alive 04:53  |  Scotty 20/01/09
      143.   Haniyeh Sounds Like Baghdad Bob 05:00  |  Moshe 20/01/09
      144.   response to Alfred 06:03  |  arik 20/01/09
      145.   Aounist 06:09  |  Motale 20/01/09
      146.   Haniya - Still Smoking? 07:00  |  Mark of Lewiston 20/01/09
      147.   Rabbi 07:08  |  saladin 20/01/09
      148.   Mark Lincoln looks to go shopping at War`s "R" Us 08:14  |  Jacob Blues 20/01/09
      149.   Permanent and durable ceasefire needed 08:42  |  mike 20/01/09
      150.   Winning without humiliating 09:54  |  marcus 20/01/09
      151.   Mr. Lincoln, juggling ideas 10:21  |  Gaza Bar and Grill 20/01/09
      152.   Hamas won 13:34  |  Paul Macdonald 20/01/09
      153.   hamas won the war 13:44  |  inem 20/01/09
      154.   your end 17:56  |  arab 20/01/09
      155.   #83 Dear Mr.Shalom Freedman **Are You Our Distinguished Our REAL* 00:50  |  Kathy 21/01/09
      156.   Dear Haaretz Moderators I NOMINATE AMONG OTHERS TOO.. 03:18  |  Just Me 21/01/09
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