Mohsen Faezi, researcher in Palestine and West Asia issues
Operation Al-Aqsa Flood is one of the largest and most enduring battles of Palestinian Resistance against the occupying Zionist regime. A confrontation that showcased the pinnacle of perseverance, bravery, and tactfulness by the Palestinian Resistance and nation, while inflicting a historic defeat on the Zionist enemy.
With the implementation of the ceasefire and the publication of uncensored footages from the Gaza Strip by various global and regional media outlets, a major shock was delivered to all external observers of Gaza. Contrary to their expectations, they witnessed a vibrant, spirited Gaza full of hope for the future—emerging from the rubble of 70% destroyed infrastructure—and steadfastly supporting the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas.
Images of the people on the first day of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip demonstrated that despite 471 days of war and military operations by the Zionist regime and its allies in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the martyrdom of over 40,000 individuals, the Hamas movement remains alive, vigorous, and in control of the Gaza Strip. The reason for this shock and astonishment of the Zionists is their failure to fathom the nature of Resistance. They assume that Resistance, like many other ideologies and movements, loses hope and changes its course under blows or disruption of normal life. Yet the distinction lies in the perspective of the Palestinian people and Resistance, that even after 471 days of war and massacre, they still return to life with hopes for the future.
In a meeting on December 13, 2024, Imam Khamenei stated: “The Resistance Front is not a piece of hardware that can be broken, dismantled, or destroyed. Resistance is a faith, a thought, a firm and heartfelt decision. Resistance is a school of thought — a doctrine. It is the faith of a group of people, not a contractual thing. Not only it doesn’t weaken under pressure, it also becomes stronger.”
The Resistance in Gaza has survived despite all the pressures. It is with this faith-based perspective and belief that Ayatollah Khamenei, in his message following the martyrdom of the commander of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Yahya Sinwar, wrote with full confidence in Hamas’s victory and survival: “For one like him who had dedicated his life to the battle against the usurping, cruel enemy, anything less than martyrdom would have been an unworthy fate. Indeed, his loss is painful for the Resistance Front. However, this front did not halt its progress in the wake of the martyrdoms of eminent figures such as Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Fathi Shaqaqi, Rantisi, and Ismail Haniyeh. Similarly, it will not falter the least with the martyrdom of Sinwar either, God willing. Hamas is alive and will stay alive.”
Hamas is Gaza, and Gaza is Hamas
One of the astonishing aspects of the early days of the ceasefire was not only the support but also the love and solidarity of the people of Gaza with the Al-Qassam and other Resistance forces. The abundance of reports, images, and video clips shared on social media and in news outlets leaves no room for denial. So much so that an Israeli analyst, Ron Ben-Yishai, acknowledged: “It must be admitted that Hamas is not an external radical religious movement that gas imposed itself on the people of Gaza. Hamas is the organizational embodiment of the authentic culture, aspirations, and ideology of discontent held by the majority—over two million people in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is Gaza, and Gaza is Hamas.”
The acknowledgment of this analyst, echoed repeatedly by some Zionist and Western politicians and media figures, was articulated years ago by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.
In 2019, during a meeting with one of the martyred commanders of Al-Aqsa Flood, Sheikh Saleh al-Arouri, Imam Khamenei emphasized that the Palestinian cause is the foremost and most critical issue in the Islamic world. Praising the extraordinary resilience and resistance of the Palestinian people and resistance groups, including Hamas, he stated: “Victory is not achieved without resistance and struggle, and based on the irrefutable divine promise, we believe that the issue of Palestine will end in the benefit of the people of Palestine and the Muslim World. Hamas stands at the core of the Palestinian movement, as Palestine stands at the core of the Muslim World's movement.”
Hamas is the heart of Palestine because it genuinely represents the legendary, resilient, and ancient society of Palestine. In his initial reaction to Al-Aqsa Flood, Imam Khamenei said: “So what should a nation do, a fervent, a deep-rooted nation, in the face of all these atrocities and crimes? How should it respond to all this oppression? Well, such people will obviously create a storm. They will create a storm whenever they find an opportunity to do so. O Zionist oppressors! You yourselves are the culprits to blame for this storm. You yourselves brought this calamity upon yourselves. A nation has no other way than to show a fervent, courageous response in the face of such hostility.”
And the most significant characteristic of Hamas, representing the essence of Palestinian society, is its faith. The central keyword for the Palestinian people, rooted in the core of their nation, leaders, and martyrs, is belief in the Quran, faith, and God’s promise. The Leader of the Islamic Revolution highlights this very point in a speech, noting that the defining characteristic and key feature of the Palestinian people is the faith of the people of Gaza:
“This is the effect of patience and trust [in God]. The people of Gaza have spread Islam with their resilience. The seekers of truth around the world want to see what it is that keeps the Palestinians steadfast like this. They want to find out what Islam is. They [the Palestinians] have introduced Islam [to the world]. They have made the Quran dear to many people. O Lord! By Muhammad and Muhammad’s progeny, increase the respect and honor of the fighters of the Resistance Front, especially the oppressed Gazan people and fighters.”
Nation of Resistance Front is like this…
Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and the period of ceasefire clearly demonstrated that Palestinian society perceives Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, and other Resistance movements as the representatives of their steadfastness, faith, and conviction in the face of genocide, atrocities, and threats to their identity.
Gaza, after 15 months of resistance, moves forward stronger and with a deeper belief in Resistance, advancing toward the liberation of al-Aqsa Mosque. In the midst of the war, Imam Khamenei emphasized in a speech: “Take a look at Gaza. They’ve been bombing Gaza for a year and some months. They’ve killed and martyred prominent figures in Gaza like Yahya Sinwar. Despite these blows, the people have stood firm. They believed they could pressure the people into turning against Hamas and rising up against it. The opposite happened—the people became even more supportive of Hamas. The same is true for the [Islamic] Jihad and other Palestinian groups. This is the nature of the resistance and the Resistance Front—the more pressure you bring on it, the stronger it will become. The more crimes you commit, the more motivated it will become. The more you fight them, the more widespread it will become. And I tell you, with the help and power of God, the span of the resistance will come to encompass the entire region more than before.”
(The views expressed in this interview are interviewee’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Khamenei.ir.)
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