end of hamas??, page-9

In all likelihood, Israel's invasion of Gaza will serve no productive purpose. The only certainty is that Israel will kill and maim Palestinians in their thousands as US supplied missiles, bombs, phosphorus and napalm destroy even more of the battered Infrastructure of Gaza.

Who will be there when the time comes to rebuild both the physical and social structures of Gaza?

The Palestinians will look for an organisation that is resilient, capable, trusted and incorruptible.

And they will find Hamas, the political party they elected to power three years ago. As an organisation, Hamas is likely to be strengthened by the current struggle just as Hezbollah grew stronger politically following Israel's invasion of Lebanon.

Unless Israel is prepared to remain in Gaza with an occupying army, any kind of puppet regime that Israel installs is certain to fail. The reality is that the population of Gaza does support Hamas and that support has been earned through Hamas' support of the population.