Since the 2006 elections, when the Hamas movement rose to power thanks to the Palestinian people's democratic choice, the Palestinian resistance has faced numerous challenges and pressures on all fronts.
In Gaza, the resistance has embodied 17 years of steadfastness despite a suffocating blockade and repeated Israeli assaults. The battles of “Sword of Jerusalem” and “Al-Aqsa Flood” marked turning points in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, establishing a new phase of confrontation based on the principle “We attack first.” With this shift, Hamas has faced continuous attrition due to the ongoing and increasingly brutal war, which has impacted its human, military, and administrative assets.
On the popular front, the people of Gaza live under relentless depletion due to systematic genocide that has transcended the bounds of humanity, continuing for over 10 months. During this dark period, the occupation committed more than 4,500 massacres, leaving behind horrific scenes of bloodshed and pain. Around 40,000 people were martyred, most of them children, women, and elderly, while tens of thousands were injured, some facing permanent disabilities. These massacres did not only claim lives but also caused widespread destruction of infrastructure, making Gaza appear as if it had just emerged from the horrors of World War II!
Pressuring Gaza's Internal Front is Netanyahu's Only Card to Weaken the Resistance
Amid ongoing forced displacement, where families are forced to leave their destroyed homes in search of temporary shelter, and the absence of basic necessities such as shelter, food, clean water, electricity, and medicine, daily life in Gaza has become a battle for survival in its simplest form. The suffering of the population has escalated to an unbearable level, as they face a scorching summer that only increases their pain and suffering, with diseases caused by water pollution, in addition to the spreading of skin conditions.
In these harsh and bleak conditions, it seems that deepening the humanitarian suffering of Gaza's internal front has become the only card left for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his desperate attempts to weaken the resistance.
On the military front, the challenge to the resistance increases with the ongoing Zionist presence on the ground in Gaza, whether in the “Netzarim” Corridor that divides the Strip into two halves or in the “Philadelphi” Corridor that cuts off Gaza's connection to the outside world. This presence complicates the resistance's mission to regain effective control and restore previous governance, adding to the burdens on both the resistance leadership and the population. Nevertheless, despite these complications, the resistance continues to wage a systematic guerrilla war, strengthening its position and affirming its ability to continue standing firm despite increasing pressure on its popular base.
Arab Betrayal is a Critical Factor Complicating the Situation for the Resistance
The West Bank
While these challenges unfold in Gaza, the situation in the West Bank is not less complicated. There, the resistance faces intense Israeli efforts to eliminate all forms of resistance under complicated regional conditions. The West Bank, which is considered a strategic reservoir for resistance due to its geographical and demographic significance, is witnessing attempts to marginalize and discredit the resistance, funded by billions of dollars. These attempts are accompanied by efforts to force the resistance to surrender, while the Palestinian Authority seeks to end the war on Israeli terms. In this context, the situation has deepened internal Palestinian divisions, weakening the Palestinian stance before the international community and leaving the resistance without official political support.
On the popular front, the division between Fatah and Hamas reflects a deeper divide between two conflicting projects: the first believes in a two-state solution and seeks to eradicate the resistance, while the second represents the resistance with its aspirations to liberate the land. In this regard, the Palestinian Authority, established under American supervision, seeks to use suppression and pressure to intimidate the resistance environment.
Moreover, forced displacement and Judaization are additional pressure cards against the resistance in the West Bank and Jerusalem. These policies aim to radically alter the demographic and geographic reality, erasing Palestinian identity and making a two-state solution nearly impossible. These policies are evident in the increase in settlements and settlers and in Israeli decisions that facilitate the seizure of Palestinian lands, adding a new dimension to the complexity of the situation.
The Absence of International Institutions as Another Factor Worsening the Resistance's Situation
Externally, the challenges facing the resistance are becoming more complex due to regional and international developments. The United States continues to shape the region according to its strategic interests, especially through supporting Israel as a key strategic ally. In this context, the “Deal of the Century” is a clear example of attempts to reshape Arab and Palestinian reality in line with the American vision, which aims to weaken the resistance.
Arab Betrayal
Despite this, Arab betrayal remains a critical factor complicating the situation for the resistance. Many Arab countries have chosen to focus on their internal issues or to enter into alliances with major powers at the expense of the Palestinian cause. This betrayal, along with the recent wave of normalization between Israel and several Arab states, deepens the resistance's isolation and makes the occupation an acceptable reality in the region, further increasing pressure on the Palestinian resistance.
Internationally, the absence of the role of international institutions is another factor that worsens the situation. Despite international decisions supporting the rights of the Palestinian people, the lack of action by these institutions reflects their weakness in confronting Israeli policies, allowing the occupation to continue its atrocities without accountability. In a similar manner, Israel continues to rely on intensive media campaigns aimed at demonizing the Palestinian resistance and portraying it as terrorist groups, in an attempt to change the global perception of the Palestinian cause and make it seem like a secondary conflict compared to other regional disputes.
The Resistance Must Activate the Popular Uprising, Unite the Ranks, and Strengthen National Unity
In light of these increasing challenges, the current stage requires significant efforts from the Palestinian resistance. The resistance needs to dismantle the security apparatus allied with the occupation and activate the popular uprising to destabilize this apparatus. Additionally, the resistance must unite the Palestinian ranks on the basis of resistance and strengthen national unity while continuing the fight on all fronts.
The resistance must also counter the demonization campaign led by the United States, raising awareness among the public and rallying support for the cause. Furthermore, it is essential to resist normalization and raise awareness of its dangers, strengthening relations with allies and supporters to secure the necessary political backing.
Finally, the resistance must enhance popular resilience by providing the means to support the Palestinian people in the face of oppression and suffering, adhering to the resistance's conditions in any negotiations, and being prepared for a prolonged struggle if necessary.
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