Hamas leaders declare victory in Gaza

More than 5,000 Hamas supporters rallied in Gaza tonight, as a top Hamas politician appeared in public for the first time since the war's start and remained defiant despite Hamas's heavy losses.

"We thank God when we see our houses bombed and our institutions destroyed, but our people say yes to the resistance and yes to martyrdom for the sake of God," Khalil al-Hayeh said, standing in front of the damaged Palestinian parliament building.

"We say proudly that Gaza has won the war, the resistance has won the war, and Hamas has won the war."

Israel launched its offensive on December 27.

Nearly 1,300 Palestinians were killed in the fighting, according to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. Thirteen Israelis were also killed.