Hamas: We're Winning the Sympathy War

Group sees political gains in the face of casualties

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 6, 2009 3:56 PM CST

(Newser) – The casualties—most of them civilians—are appalling, but Hamas still sees itself coming out the winner in Israel’s devastating Gaza offensive, Time reports. In a war of “perception,” write Jamil Hamad and Tony Karon, Hamas is reaping sympathy from the wide distribution of images of suffering and destruction. And Hamas seems to be keeping many of its fighters out of the path of the Israelis, rather than being drawn into battles that would take a heavy toll.

Israel hopes to embolden Arab moderates by weakening Hamas; instead, it may be encouraging the outside world to side increasingly with the extremists. “Even leaders who had initially blamed Hamas for the crisis have been forced to revert to boilerplate denunciations of Israel,” write Hamad and Karon. And the public perception of success—or failure—may have repercussions for Israeli leaders at home in February’s election.

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (2)]

Hamas sees images of Gaza destruction as a political boon. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Palestinian women hold posters showing Hamas leader Isamail Haniyeh, left, and Khaled Mashaal, right, during a demonstration to protest Israel's attack on the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

A Palestinian nun light candles during a prayer to protest against Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)

Egyptian activists flash V signs and raise a Palestinian flag and a copy of the Quran during a protest in Cairo Monday, Jan. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Mohamed Ahmed)

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Hamas leaders believe their key weapon in this confrontation is the mounting pile of civilian casualties and the inevitable humanitarian crisis that accompanies military action in a densely populated urban setting. - Jamil Hamad and Tony Karon

Israel's foreign minister has repeatedly stressed that by weakening Hamas in Gaza, the Israeli military operation will boost moderate Arab leaders threatened by radical Islamist groups. But the opposite may be occurring. -

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Hamas: We're Winning the Sympathy War