Illustration depicting Operation Al-Aqsa Flood being carried out by the Palestinian Resistance. Photo: The Cradle.
By Abdel Bari Atwan – Oct 8, 2023
Now we know why Mohammad Deif, the leader of Hamas’ military wing in the Gaza Strip, disappeared from public view after the ‘Sword of Jerusalem’ campaign nearly two years ago. He was making plans and preparations for a counterstrike against Israel. On Saturday, October 7, he emerged, alongside Hamas spokesman ‘Abu-Obaida,’ to announce it.
They declared the start of Operation al-Aqsa Flood, describing it as a battle to end the longest occupation on the planet. Thousands of rockets were launched within a matter of minutes, confounding Israel’s much-hyped air defense systems, while Palestinian resistance fighters broke out of the besieged territory to storm Israeli settlements in the Gaza Envelope.
BREAKING: Gaza resistance fired over 5,000 rockets into Israel pic.twitter.com/fG60yxQ2Yy
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) October 7, 2023
The images of the operation posted on social media were astonishing: Merkava tanks on fire; their Israeli occupation soldiers being dragged out and pleading for mercy; Israeli settlers fleeing in panic, their appeals for help going unheeded. At this writing, more than 100 Israelis (now well over 700) had been reported killed, thousands injured, and scores captured to be used as bargaining chips for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Tel Aviv.
The impact on the morale of Israel’s elites and public has been enormous. The country’s political, security, and military establishments have been dealt their biggest blow in 50 years, since the October 1973 war. When an army ranked as the world’s fourth most powerful cannot prevent or react to the targeting of supposedly secure settlers in Israel “proper,” that is a sign of serious decline.
Palestinian resistance launches 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood', invading southern 'Israel' by land, air & sea while firing rockets.
All factions are present.
Dozens of Israeli soldiers killed & captured, hundreds wounded & several settlements liberated.
The operation is ongoing. pic.twitter.com/jyqlsouOOT
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) October 7, 2023
Regardless of how events unfold in the days and weeks to come, the resistance has achieved a huge victory. This is a long war. Israel may unleash death and destruction on a gigantic scale, but it will not emerge unscathed itself. And if it escalates into a regional war on multiple fronts, the writing will be clearly on the wall.
The thought, planning, and management that went into this operation match anything taught at the world’s top military academies. When videos of fighters training for it were posted on social media, they were ridiculed by Israel and its “normalized” Arab allies. So much for all those Sandhurst and West Point graduates. Mohammad Deif never claimed any military title, but he deserves the rank of “general” far more than any of the heavily medalled and overweight commanders of Arab armies who do little more than stage parades and earn corrupt commissions on arms deals.
Remember the date—7 October. It may mark a historic turning point in the Arab world, from a period of submission, surrender, normalization, and delusions about the enemy as protector, to one of dignity and liberation: in this case, the total liberation of Palestine.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a state of war, threatened a devastating response, and called up his army’s reservists. But what can he do that he has not already done? Kill hundreds more innocent civilians in Gaza? It would not be the first time. But this time, it could trigger a devastating reaction that reaches as far as Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad joined Hamas in this battle, as did all the armed resistance wings of the major Palestinian factions. The resistance brigades in the West Bank—in Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarem, and potentially Hebron – have been inspired and, with their solid base of popular support, have begun to join the fight. And it cannot be ruled out that components of the axis of resistance in Lebanon and Syria, and even Yemen and Iraq, will do so too in the foreseeable future, if not sooner.
Abdel Bari Atwan
Abdel Bari Atwan was born in Gaza, Palestine and has lived in London since 1979. The founder and editor in chief of Raialyoum since 2013, Abdel Bari was previously the editor of London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi, an independent, pan-Arab daily newspaper since 1989. He is the author of several books, including the bestselling 'The Secret History of al-Qa'ida,' a prolific contributor to international media outlets - TV and print - and lectures worldwide
