Worse than the 33-day war
A commentary by Hossein Ala’i
![Worse than the 33-day war](/images/www/en/news/news-primary/2009/alaei32.jpg)
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Heavy raids of the Israeli army on Gaza have left helpless Palestinians residents with great casualties, with more than 400 martyrs and 2000 wounded. However, the Zionists regime is already defeated in this ’unilateral war’. Aiming to ’crush Palestinians’ resistance’, ’topple Hamas government’, ’put an end to shooting rockets into Israel’ to ’bolster Israeli settlers’ security’, it started an all-out attack on Palestinian territories from air and sea. To be sure of Palestinians’ siege, 40 tunnels leading to Egypt were pounded with bombs which were a courtesy of the United States. The Israeli army has also called up its ground forces near Gaza border for a possible attack.
The violent raids are encouraged by the United States, some European countries, a number of Arab states like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and also Palestinian Authority leaders. Heavy casualties on the first day are a result of Egyptian officials’ guarantee to Hamas leaders that Israel will not attack Gaza Strip. Arab FMs failure to reach an agreement in Cairo meeting for stopping the Zionist regime’s attack is evidence on some Arab states’ tendency to knock down Hamas and kill the spirit of resistance in Palestine. What Hamas has done has raised questions on the legitimacy of corrupt regimes such as Egypt. [That’s why] Egypt seeks continuation of air assaults to take the control of these lands out of Hamas’ hands and deliver it to the Palestinian Authority which has friendly relations with Zionists.
However, after around one week of Israeli army’s ceaseless raids on the Gaza Strip, it seems that Israel has failed to accomplish its goals. On the one hand, there are no targets left for Israeli jet fighters, and on the other hand, Hamas has managed to sustain its organization, keep most of its top-level members out of Israel’s touch, and continue firing rockets into the Occupied Territories while increasing their frequency and range. People around the world have also held demonstrations to reveal the sbarbarous face of the Zionist regime and its main supporter, the United States.
At any rate, the Zionist regime that intended to destroy Hamas and also attenuate its defeat in the 33-day war with Hezbollah has now become confused. Israeli jet fighters have demolished all the sites which made governing Gaza possible. There are now no governmental offices left for residents of Gaza but Israel still continues to bombard the land. According to UN officials, up to now a hundred of victims consist of women, children, students and other civilians who had nothing to do with Hamas. Clearly continuing the raid only increases the casualties among people who suffer the most inhumane situation, struggling with hunger and having no access to medical aids.
On the other hand, it is reported that the Israeli army is prepared for a ground assault. This may finalize Zionist regime’s defeat since Palestinian fighters are ready for face-to-face confrontation with Israeli forces. Victory over Israel in such a situation will lead to a greater achievement and Israel has to prepare for a defeat worse than the 33-day war in its long list of crimes.