They started the war and Israel met the challenge. So the honest question is, what did Hamas gain?
The liberal and Arab Jew hater will say Hamas won a PR gain, because many civilians were killed. However, that is a fatal argument on two points:
(1) The world lives in the 24/7 news-cycle. Once this one dies down the next tragic event will take it's place and everyone will have forgotten. Take Boko Haram. They kidnapped 300 school girls. The first lady did one of those signs the world was outraged, outraged I tell you. The girls were never found, yet this story was forgotten in a week. Give it 2 weeks and the news cycle will move on. Give it 1 month and it will be forgotten. So sorry but no PR victory.
(2) Most honest non-Jew hating people easily see that the reason for the civilian deaths was Hamas strategy of firing rockets from apartment buildings, schools, mosques and hospitals. Their use of human shields was horrendous and most honest people recognize that.
Regardless, if you want to give them a so-call "PR victory" was the price worth it?
(1) Israel utilized the HIGHLY effective Russia invasion of Georgia strategy. The same one they half-heartedly utilized in Lebanon a few years back. Invade the country, declare the entire country an enemy, hit it hard and swiftly, reduce it to rubles and then leave and make them clean up the mess.
(2) Gaza is now in rubles because of this Hamas provoked war. It will take time, money and resources to repair the area. The economy will suffer from it for years.
(3) The very expensive and time consuming tunnel network has been completely destroyed. They spend years to make it and it was destroyed in weeks. Imagine taking 10 years to paint a million dollar masterpiece for a someone to destroy it upon completion. That would hit the moral no?
(4) Much of the expensive weapons they stored have been destroyed. These guys don't have money trees. This loss will be devastating to their military
(5) Proved the iron domes effectiveness. So many missiles and so few made it through. 1 person killed and very few injured and little property damage destroyed.
(6) Huge loss of Palestinian life.
(7) Gazans are now openly questioning Hamas, why they provoked this war they killed so many of it's people and destroy their territory.
(8) The Arab world for the first time abandoned the Palestinians. Many openly blamed Hamas for the unnecessary war and use of human shields. Many every de facto supported Israel.
(9) It showed the fear Hezbollah has for Israel. I know the Arab myth behind the 2nd Lebanon War was that Israel lost, but Lebanon has lived in fear of another Israel attack every since, their cowardly leader is still in hiding and their economy hasn't bounced back even half way yet.
A short-term so called "PR Victor" wasn't worth it, but then again I am a, Evul Zionist!
