Israel and Hamas have agreed to an indefinite cease-fire after 50 bloody days of fighting in the Gaza Strip. Both sides are claiming victory, to their publics and the international community. Both audiences matter because this war is not over and when the fighting resumes, Israel and Hamas will need the support of domestic constituencies and international opinion to ultimately prevail.
Nearly two months of armed struggle has resulted in the deaths of 2,143 Palestinians — the United Nations says that there were 495 children and 253 women among them — and 64 Israeli soldiers, as well as six Israeli civilians killed in Israel by Hamas' rocket and mortar attacks.
The Gaza Strip, which was a virtual ruin before the conflict began, is now devastated, meaning that there will be little or no relief for the more than 11,000 Palestinians wounded and the 100,000 left homeless.
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