Region | Palestinian Territories
Hamas claims Gaza 'victory' as troops pull back
Israeli troops pulled out of the Gaza Strip after days of fighting that killed more than 100 people.
- Agencies
- Published: 10:21 March 3, 2008
- Palestinians have appealed to human rights organisations to persuade Israel to allow the entry of concrete into the Strip. They also appealed to Egypt to reopen the Rafah passage so that cement can be brought in to give a decent burial for the dead.
- Image Credit: AP
Gaza: Israeli troops pulled out of the Gaza Strip on Monday after days of fighting that killed more than 100 people and drew an appeal from Washington to end violence and rescue peace talks with the Palestinians.
The Hamas fighters who control the coastal enclave declared "victory" and vowed to continue firing rockets into Israel. But the Israeli government declared it had achieved its objective of deterring attacks, which have disrupted life in border towns.
At dawn, as Gaza residents streamed out of homes where they had been pinned for days by the heavy fighting, a spokesman for the Hamas armed wing said it would continue firing rockets into Israel. "The enemy has been defeated," he said.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said: "Gaza will always be a graveyard for the occupation forces."
On the eve of a visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Israel had been under pressure from its ally in Washington to halt the violence after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas suspended US-backed peace talks in protest at the bloodshed.
Share this article
Related Articles
-
Gaza killings derail boycott plan
Gaza killings derail boycott plan by US allies ahead of Arab summit
-
Reaching out: Red Cross sends aid
Reaching out: Red Cross sends aid
-
No new graves for Gaza dead
No new graves for Gaza dead
-
Israel moves into Gaza
Israel moves into northern Gaza as attacks continue
-
Gaza carnage buries peace talks
Gaza carnage buries peace negotiations
-
Harbingers of war?
Harbingers of war?
More from Palestinian Territories
More from Region
Popular in News
News Editor's choice
-
A year after 173 defenceless people were killed
Mumbai itself is far from safe from another deadly attack, even though the level of security consciousness of the average Mumbaikar has been raised since 26/11
-
Nato supports Obama's plea
European and other allies to send around 6,000 troops to Afghanistan
-
Official confirms mayor is the suspect
Many witnesses have come forward, justice secretary says
-
Into an oasis of values
A place to snuggle in the warmth of old manners away from the bustle of city life
