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The Islamic Resistance Movement of Palestine (Hamas), under the military wing known as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, initiated attacks from the Gaza Strip at a time when, on one side, Israelis were preoccupied with their religious holidays and, on the other side, Arabs were reminiscing about the memories of the October 1973 Arab-Israeli War.
In the 1973 war, Egyptian forces had achieved significant success against Israel, liberating a substantial area of the Sinai Peninsula beyond the Suez Canal from Israeli occupation.
In this war, Arab countries, led by Egypt, had taken an offensive approach against Israel, similar to how Hamas has launched an offensive now. However, after a long period of time, the situation is very different. Israel now controls its territories entirely, inflicting punishment on Palestinians at will, and no major world power steps in to halt Israel’s actions. Even Palestinian factions, like “Fatah” in the Muslim world, are unable to effectively stop Israel’s oppression or help their Palestinian “brothers of Joseph” wipe away their tears.
In these circumstances, Israel had been gradually tightening its grip on its territories and was confident that it could suppress the Palestinians through force and maintain its relations with regional countries, particularly after receiving the green light from Arab leaders, including Saudi Arabia.
Israel believed that its defense was impregnable, and its borders were impassable. Despite all its defensive measures and the infiltration of Palestinian resistance networks into the world of intelligence, Israel failed to anticipate that Palestinian militants could challenge its power and dominance. Thus, Israel saw Palestinians as insignificant and believed that it could pursue its political ambitions and projects in the region without any hindrance.
However, the situation has drastically changed now. Hamas, through its sudden attack, has disrupted Israel’s complacency, and the city’s population, including its civilians who felt safe, has become more aware of their vulnerability.
This attack by Hamas, though appearing sudden, is undoubtedly not impromptu. Extensive planning and preparation must have gone into it. The outcome of this conflict remains uncertain, but it is clear that Hamas has achieved a significant, organized, and widespread attack. Palestinian resistance fighters have demonstrated their capability to challenge Israel’s might, even in the face of its advanced weaponry and support from global powers.
It is undeniable that this is a battle of material strength and military prowess. Israel’s strength, military capabilities, and the latest deadly weapons, along with the backing of world powers, stand against the unarmed and unsupported Palestinians. However, it is also clear that the Palestinian resistance is determined not to surrender their rights under any circumstances and does not recognize any ownership by the occupier.
In light of the external and military perspectives, it can be seen that Hamas’s offensive is, in essence, a form of self-sacrifice. Israel’s arrogance, its view of being invincible, has been shattered. It has intensified the cycle of oppression and brutality. In this situation, people of reason question when the oppressor, the tyrant, the aggressor, and the occupier Israel will stop its series of injustice. Hamas’s “audacious” courage can be seen as a response to Israel’s oppression.
The reality is that Palestinians have nothing left to lose but their lives. They no longer value their lives over their rights and do not consider the oppressor as the rightful owner in any way. This attack by Hamas has shown that Israel’s claim to absolute control is unfounded. Israel remains the occupier, and until Palestinians attain their rights, the occupier will persist.
Palestinians are now prepared to lose everything, except their lives, for their cause. The importance of a single life has diminished for them. For the oppressed Palestinians, there is no value in safeguarding their lives when they are struggling for their rights. Hamas has demonstrated that Israel’s arrogance, its invincibility, has been broken. It has renewed the determination, morale, and courage of the resistance movement, while the hopelessness of the helpless Palestinians will transform into renewed hope.
It is certain that Israel will not cease its oppressive practices, and the suffering of the oppressed Palestinians will increase. Palestinians have nothing left to lose, and their importance is now recognized not in terms of life but as a test for the Muslim world. Shame should fall upon those Muslim countries that are attempting to wash their hands of their responsibilities with statements like “Both sides should immediately cease fire.”
