Gaza  - Hamas fighters battling Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip would soon see victory, the movement's leader Ismail Haniya said Monday night.

Speaking in a pre-recorded televised speech carried on Hamas' al- Aqsa television, an exhausted-looking Haniya said Hamas had an "appointment to meet soon with victory against an enemy which has shown no mercy to stones, trees and humans."

It was only Haniya's second appearance since the Israel assault against Hamas in the Strip began on December 27. Like other Hamas leaders in the salient, he went into hiding as soon as Israel launched its Operation Cast Lead in response massive rocket and mortar bombardments from the salient on its southern towns and villages.

In the 17 days since the operation began, over 900 Gazans, including an estimated hundreds of Hamas militants, have been killed, and thousands more wounded.

"The residents of Gaza are not afraid and are not crying, despite losing their loved ones," Haniya said.

"We are working on two parallel tracks, the first is the track of resistance and steadfastness and the second is the political track to confront the military aggression on our people," he continued.

He also quoted verses from the Muslim holy book, the Koran, which talk about patience, power and steadfastness in fighting the enemy. (dpa)