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Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/14/palestinians-israel-gaza-idUSL5E8NE37820121214
Hamas Subdued Despite Gaza Victory Claim
(Reuters) Dan Williams - Israel's offensive on Gaza has deterred Hamas from new hostilities despite its claims of victory and the front is now at its quietest in 20 years, a senior Israeli military officer said. "Their jubilation was not from victory, it was from their relief at being able to emerge from shelters," he said. Hamas and other armed Palestinian factions were now "thoroughly daunted" by Israel and trying to shore up the calm or at least avoid breaching it. Though Israel killed the Hamas military chief, Ahmed al-Jaabari, in a Nov. 14 air strike, the officer said several other commanders had been spared because non-combatants were nearby. Israeli officials accused militants of sheltering in Gaza's Shifa Hospital. In the next round, the officer said, "I won't fire on Shifa. But I won't be able to keep to sterile strikes like I did in this round. I intend to kill the brigade commanders and battalion commanders wherever they are."