AP ANALYSIS: Hamas emerges weakened from Gaza war

Associated Press ^ | Aug 6, 3:27 PM EDT | Karin Laub and Mohammed Daraghmeh

[keat]

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Hamas has entered Egyptian-brokered talks with Israel on a new border regime for blockaded Gaza from a point of military weakness: it lost hundreds of fighters, two-thirds of its 10,000 rockets and all of its attack tunnels, worth $100 million, Israel says.

The Gaza war has boosted the Islamic militant group's popularity among Palestinians because it confronted Israel. But the mood can quickly turn if Hamas fails to deliver achievements for Gaza in the Cairo talks, most urgently the opening the territory's borders.

If the Cairo talks fail, Hamas will have only limited options, since resuming rocket fire would probably bring more ruination on an already-devastated territory. In the past month of Israel-Hamas fighting - the third major round of such hostilities in five years - nearly 1,900 Palestinians have been killed, more than 9,000 wounded and thousands of homes destroyed.

The massive destruction in Gaza City's neighborhood of Shijaiyah, close to the border with Israel, illustrated the extent of Hamas' military setbacks and the fickle public mood it faces.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Let us wail. Not.

[ConservaTexan]

...it lost hundreds of fighters, two-thirds of its 10,000 rockets and all of its attack tunnels, worth $100 million,

How does the AP know all the tunnels were destroyed? The fact is they don't. They are trying to protect the surviving tunnels.

[boycott]

I would prefer Israel finish the job so they won’t have to deal with them for a few more years. I get tired of these terrorists threatening and killing innocent people.

[aces]

kill hamas while its weak..

[Little Ray]

If they survive at all, they will claim it as a victory.

Won’t take them very long to restock their rockets and start rebuilding their attack tunnels.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Leftists will send money to HamASS and Obama will send them rockets

[Vermont Lt]

If I was Hamas I would switch from buying 10,000 little rockets to buying 100 bigger ones. Otherwise they will simply get their asses kicked again.

[NoLibZone]

Free Gaza!

From the Hamas.

[Tau Food]

If I was Hamas I would switch from buying 10,000 little rockets to buying 100 bigger ones. Otherwise they will simply get their asses kicked again.

I do not look forward to the day that both sides have access to nuclear devices. Is that the way this mess is going to end?

[Caipirabob]

Being a bunch of pedophile pussies who hide behind children and under women's skirts history has not worked out to much of a battle plan.

ישראל עתה ועד עולם!

[Caipirabob]

!ישראל עתה ועד עולם

[huckfillary]

Hamas must be defeated, not just weakened. Does anybody win a war anymore for G-d’s sake? Why do the Israelis just buy time, kick the can down the road, instead of just defeating them once and for all? Just bulldoze the Goddamn place and turn it into a theme park. Like the Romans did with Catheginians-—they trounced them and sowed the earth with salt so they could never come back.

[drypowder]

leave it to the AP to try to put a less than disastrous spin on this Hamas issue but the term "weakened" translates to; they are getting their clocks cleaned. Netanyahu is a class act. I believe Obama doesn't like communicating with Netanyahu because he throws Obama's absurdity right back in face thus stripping Obama of any credibility as a statesman, respectfully of course. Too bad there aren't more heads of state like Netanyahu.

[faithhopecharity]

Israel needs to destroy the Satanic IslamoNazis, all of them... that seek to destroy her.

And Israel needs to finish the job...ASAP.

J

[luvbach1]

The Gaza war has boosted the Islamic militant group's popularity among Palestinians because it confronted Israel.

The "innocent civilians" we are always hearing so much about.

[luvbach1]

Leftists will send money to HamASS and Obama will send them rockets

I'm sure U.S. tax dollars ("humanitarian aid") have significantly contributed to the construction of the tunnels.

[luvbach1]

If I was Hamas I would switch from buying 10,000 little rockets to buying 100 bigger ones

Won't Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system knock down big ones just as easily? Of course if only a few get through the damage would be much greater than before.

[Vendome]

LIE YUH!!!

[Ditto]

The only thing Hamas can offer is death and destruction. If that is what the Paistanians people want, they have made their choice.

They could choose peace and prosperity but I doubt they will. It is not in their nature.