Thousands of Islamic Hamas movement's supporters in Gaza rallied Tuesday celebrating what the movement termed as "the victory of resistance against the Israeli occupation forces."
Hamas supporters gathered at several mosques in Gaza city, then the crowds met together in city center as they waved Hamas green flags and chanted slogans of victory against Israel.
The Israeli army had carried out 22-day military offensive on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, killing more than 1,400 people and wounded 5,500 others. The assault stopped on Sunday following the ceasefire announced by the two sides separately.
Hamas supporters slammed Israel and several Arab countries at the rally, referring to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian National Authority.
The crowds of Hamas supporters gathered at the square cross the street to the building of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) that was completely destroyed in Israeli airstrike during the offensive.
"This was a war that focused on killing women and children and focused on destroying buildings and houses after the Zionists failed to break the strong Palestinian armed resistance," said one of Hamas supporters.
Ashraf Abu Dayya, chief of Hamas public relation, said "the crowds came here to express their complete solidarity with the armed resistance and with the families who lost their beloved and had their homes destroyed."
"This huge participation of people in the rally is a proof that Hamas movement was not broken in the war and the people are still standing to its side and support it," said Abu Dayya.
He added that the sudden Israeli declaration for a unilateral ceasefire "came after the enemy realized that it can't confront the strong Palestinian resistance and after its army was defeated before the fighters."
(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2009)