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Source: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3514324,00.html
What Did the IDF Operation in Gaza Achieve?
[Ynet News] Ron Ben-Yishai - What did Israel's combined ground and aerial operation in Gaza achieve? Hamas lost about 70 men in three days, and that's a lot - even for a group that sanctifies death. Furthermore, the operation eroded Hamas' status in the eyes of local residents. It doesn't matter how often Hamas spokesmen repeat "the people is behind us," phone conversations with Gaza residents create a wholly different impression. The operation creates legitimacy among the international community to a situation of fighting in Gaza. This legitimacy is also created as a result of the fact that the media no longer view fighting in Gaza as "news," and also because the ongoing attacks on Ashkelon make it clear that Israel did not pounce on the Palestinians for no reason. A testament to this legitimacy could be seen in the fact that no real pressure was exerted on Israel to end the operation on the part of official political elements, including in the Arab world.