Special report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts
GAZA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The armed wing of Islamic
Hamas movement al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza vowed on Monday that it would get more
weapons into the Gaza Strip by its own private means.
Abu Obieda, the group's spokesman in the Gaza Strip
told a news conference held in Gaza that the Islamic group armed wing, which is
ruling the enclave since the summer of 2007, "would develop its rockets power
and abilities."
It is the first time that the armed group is speaking
in details about the results of the 23-day Israeli military air and ground
offensive on the Gaza Strip that began on Dec. 27 last year and ended on Jan. 18
this year.
"Our rockets powers haven't been affected by the war.
Al-Qassam brigades has the abilities to launch more rockets at Jewish
settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip," said Abu Obeida.
During the 23-day Israeli military offensive on the
Gaza Strip, 1,310 Palestinians were killed and more than 5,500 wounded, most of
them were civilians, women and children.
"We are still developing our rockets power and
abilities, and it will be able to reach further areas. We haven't stopped our
rockets attacks during the war, and our decision to stop the rockets attacks was
independent," said Abu Obdeia.
Asked about the agreement to stop smuggling weapons
to Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Hamas armed wing spokesman said "Since we were
legally allowed to bring weapons into Gaza, we know exactly how to bring them."
Abu Obeida said that in spite of the great physical
losses they had and the enclave was blocked during the offensive, "the armed
resistance won this war."
"The goals that Israel wanted to achieve, such as
toppling Hamas were not achieved at all," Abu Obeida added, saying that "I call
on those who were clapping to Israel for its war, the goals Israel achieved was
just killing women and children."
