(NEWS) 200-300 Hamas Men Died In Cast Lead, Group Admits For First Time

10:58 AM by 
"Israel Radio quotes Hamas minister as denying al Qaida is active in Gaza, saying 'We are moderates - we don't like extremists or fanatics.'

Hamas confirmed for the first time on Monday that between 200 and 300 members of the organization's military wing were killed during Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip at the end of 2008, Israel Radio reported.

Israel launched Operation Cast Lead in December 2008 in efforts to curb missile fire from the Palestinian territory into Israel's southern communities. Immediately following the operation, Hamas reported that less than 50 of its men had been killed."