Hamas Struggles to Reconstruct Gaza Economy
Hamas needs the ceasefire with Israel to work as it sets its sights on rehabilitating Gaza's economy, Rana Manna reports from Gaza.
![A masked Palestinian boy wears a Hamas banner on his head as he participates in a Hamas rally in Gaza December 23, 2005. Thousands of Hamas members marched in Gaza City on Friday to condemn the [United States and Europe and to demand that President Mahmoud Abbas] not delay the upcoming parliament vote.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_large/public/almpics/2012/q4/RTXO2Y3.jpg/RTXO2Y3.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=Q9FoDF9h "A masked Palestinian boy wears a Hamas banner on his head as he participates in a Hamas rally in Gaz..")
Although the current ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian groups has been violated on several occasions, Hamas is maintaining restraint to prevent another major conflict from erupting.
Palestinian casualties in the November conflict — said to number 185 deaths and 1,399 wounded — were not the only reason that pushed the Hamas government in Gaza into a ceasefire with Israel. The Jewish state also inflicted heavy economic losses on Gaza in the latest round of fighting.
According to Ihab al-Gohsan, spokesperson for the Gaza government, the losses totaled up to $1.2 billion, including all sectors of the economy, with roughly 130 government buildings and facilities either partially or wholly destroyed. Twenty of these facilities belonged to the Interior Ministry.
Shakir Shabaat, political analyst and lecturer at the Al-Aqsa University in Gaza, said Israel’s specific targeting of the interior ministry might weaken Hamas’ ability to restrain other armed groups.
