![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_header/public/almpics/2012/q4/RTXO2Y3.jpg/RTXO2Y3.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=VvhkigY1)
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.
