Israel Matzav

Hamas admits it lost 700 terrorists in Cast Lead

Hamas has admitted for the first time that it lost 700 terrorists in Operation Cast Lead, and not 50 as it had claimed. It has also admitted that the 250 'police' killed on the first day of the operation were Hamas terrorists.

Responding to accusations that the people of Gaza had paid the price for Hamas' war with Israel, [Hamas Interior Minister Fathi] Hammad retorted, "They say that people who are affected by this war, but is Hamas not a part of the people?"

Talking about losses in the war, Hammad confirmed significant personnel losses in Hamas' military wings for the first time. He said, "On the first day of the war, Israel targeted police stations and 250 martyrs who were part of Hamas and the various factions fell." He added that, "about 200 to 300 were killed from the Qassam Brigades, as well as 150 security personnel."

Hammad also claimed that Israel too had deflated its casualty numbers, claiming that 50 Israelis were killed during Cast Lead, but that "they [Israel] acknowledged only 12 people."

If you add all that up, you will find that at least 700 casualties in Gaza - the vast majority - were Hamas terrorists, and not civilians, as Israel has claimed all along.

I wonder if Richard Goldstone is listening.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:00 AM