WANA (Jan 20) – Despite repeated efforts by Israel to defeat Hamas and alter the political dynamics of the region, its failure in Gaza has yielded significant and thought-provoking results. This article examines the various aspects of this defeat in three main sections.

 

Section One: Hamas, Stronger Than Before

1. Preservation of Combat Power and Leadership

Hamas has not only survived in Gaza but has also maintained its key leadership and combat capabilities, emerging as a stronger force.

 

2. Increased Popular Support for Hamas

One of the major outcomes of the recent conflict has been a rise in public support for Hamas, reflecting significant social changes within Gaza.

the entire Gaza Strip is now firmly under the Hamas's control / WANA News Agency

The entire Gaza Strip is now firmly under the Hamas’s control / WANA News Agency

3. Complete Control Over Gaza

Contrary to Israel’s claims of diminishing Hamas’s influence, the entire Gaza Strip is now firmly under the movement’s control.

 

4. Rapid Recovery of Administrative Infrastructure

Immediately after the conflict, Hamas redeployed its administrative and service forces in Gaza, demonstrating remarkable organizational and adaptive capabilities.

 

Section Two: Regional Political and Military Changes

1. Recruitment of New Forces by Hamas

Israel’s excessive acts of aggression have enabled Hamas to attract significant new recruits, further strengthening its position.

2. An Active and Armed West Bank

Previously a fragmented and sporadic landscape, the West Bank has now transformed into an active, armed front in alignment with Gaza.

 

3. Rift Between Trump and Netanyahu

The war’s aftermath has deepened tensions between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. The weakening of Netanyahu’s political standing in Israel has been one of the notable repercussions of the conflict.

 

4. Strengthened Unity Among Resistance Movements

Israel’s intelligence community acknowledges that the resistance front has achieved a level of unity making any future war far more challenging for Israel.

Iranians light fireworks during a celebration after the news of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, in Tehran, Iran, January 16, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Iranians light fireworks during a celebration after the news of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, in Tehran, Iran, January 16, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Section Three: Diplomatic Failures and Israel’s Growing Concerns

1. A Ceasefire Out of Weakness

Yair Lapid, Israel’s foreign minister, explicitly admitted that the regime’s weakness was the primary reason behind accepting the ceasefire, dismissing claims of U.S. pressure.

 

2. Living Commanders as Symbols of Failure

Israel views the survival of figures like Mohammed Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Abu Ubaida as clear symbols of its defeat.

3. Netanyahu’s Struggles to Manage Public Opinion

In pursuit of agreements he personally distrusts, Netanyahu has had to convince the Israeli public, further straining his political position.

 

4. Concerns Over Fatah-Hamas Rapprochement

Israel is alarmed that agreements made in Cairo regarding Gaza’s governance might bring Fatah closer to Hamas, presenting new challenges for the regime.

 

The various dimensions of Israel’s defeat in Gaza reveal that the regime has not only failed to achieve its objectives but is also grappling with consequences that have severely undermined its political and security structure. The emergence of Hamas as a stronger force and the ensuing regional political shifts have confronted Israel with unprecedented challenges.

Statement by IRGC on Gaza Ceasefire

WANA (Jan 16) – In a statement celebrating the establishment of a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared the truce a “clear conquest and a significant victory for Palestine,” while calling it a “monumental defeat for the Zionist regime.”   The statement is as follows: “Indeed, We have […]

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