THE Israeli PM's claim that his country won a "great military and political" victory over Hamas in the latest round of fighting in the Gaza Strip has met with scepticism from many of his people, according to a poll.
The poll, published in the left-leaning Haaretz newspaper, shows 54 per cent of those surveyed believe there was no clear winner in the 50 days of war.
The fighting killed 2,143 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Palestinian health officials and UN officials.
On the Israeli side, 64 soldiers, five civilians and a Thai worker were killed.
The poll underscores the unease pervading Israeli society after the third round of fighting between Israel and Gaza-based Islamic militants in the seven years since Hamas took control of the densely populated coastal strip.
Some 25 per cent of respondents said Israel had won the war, while 16 per cent believed Hamas had prevailed. The remaining 5 per cent of those surveyed were undecided.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this week Israel had dealt Hamas "a heavy blow", adding: "With the implementation of the cease-fire, I can say that there is a great military and political achievement here for the State of Israel."
"Hamas was hit hard and it received not one of the demands it set forth for a ceasefire, not one."
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