The shockwave created by Hamas' Operation Aqsa Flood, which began on Saturday morning, October 7th, not only in Israel but also worldwide, continues. As the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, penetrated deep into Israel from 22 different points, they delivered an unprecedented defeat to Israel, as described by a Hamas spokesperson. In fact, the initial impact of the event on the entire world is somewhat reminiscent of Kafka's "The Metamorphosis." You know, in Kafka's novel, when the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, wakes up one morning from oppressive dreams, he finds himself transformed into a giant insect in his bed. This time, those who woke up may not have transformed themselves, but they found the state of Israel, which has been perceived as a giant in terms of warfare, technology, intelligence, and power around the world for quite some time, transformed into a paper tiger. And, through this transformation, it will also influence their perspectives.
Israel's impregnable security walls, fences, trenches, and strict controls, where nobody without proper authorization could enter, were breached within minutes. Thousands of Kassam Brigade fighters and volunteer Palestinians entered Israeli territory, having fun. In contrast, Israeli soldiers or settlers fled like scared rabbits.
Israel, which has hitherto operated as a fear machine, utilizing its power, intelligence, and warfare skills to the fullest in the region since its establishment, has been defeated by a technology that originated from stovepipes. Of course, it is not just defeated by a mere stovepipe or an advanced version of it. What it was defeated by is the faith of those who did not submit to its power, technology, and oppressive acts. What defeated Israel is the very essence of this faith.
For 16 years, the people of Gaza, who have been under siege, deprived of even a gram of unauthorized bread, medicine, or any other supplies, humiliated their men, women, children, dignity, beliefs, and sacred values. The determination of the people of Gaza to never bow down was always evident in their eyes. That determination has always been Israel's worst nightmare. Today, that nightmare has become a reality.
Hamas' original purpose and political strategy were based on the continuity of this resistance, combined with faith, as well as rational organization, and providing a power-based response to Zionism. Yes, the intifadas began with stones, with whatever they had, but this did not mean they would settle for what they had. It was about developing the technique and power to aim at Israel's eyes, just as David aimed and hit Goliath right in the middle of his forehead with precision.
In 2021, Hamas had already indicated that it had acquired the skill to turn Israel's legendary Iron Dome into a sieve. And since then, Hamas had been warning Israel that this skill was not a bluff and that it should be prepared to experience what it had been subjecting Palestinians to multiple times over.
Until now, Hamas had always presented its actions as asymmetric retaliation against Israeli attacks, an asymmetric reaction. With the Aqsa Storm, for the first time, Hamas took the initiative and attacked Israel. Every night, Gaza's nightmare became a reality for Israel as well.
Indeed, despite all the noise, this is the essence of the matter. Although friends of the US and Israel suddenly shift into "poor Israel attacked by barbaric Hamas" mode, the essence is that Israel is experiencing a portion of what it has been inflicting on the Palestinian people for the first time. The people of Gaza, who have been under siege for 16 years, are deprived of the most basic living conditions. In the occupied territories, Palestinian families' homes, lands, and fields are expropriated to Zionist settlers from all over the world, with promises of wealth and prosperity. Those who resist this are subjected to all kinds of aggression and humiliation. Instead of building security walls around the settlements to protect the settlers, security walls are built around Palestinian neighborhoods, subjecting Palestinians to conditions resembling an open-air prison. At the checkpoints set up between two streets that Palestinians must pass through to go from their homes to their neighbors', they are made to wait for hours, trying to make life unbearable.
Israel carries out operations against Palestinians whenever it wants. During this time, an average of one or two Palestinians lose their lives every day due to random gunfire in response to the resistance to the violence. During the disputes that arise, dozens of Palestinians are arrested each time.
Then there are attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque. These attacks by Israelis, which have reduced the holy site of Muslims to a mere concrete structure, have effectively turned the occupation of Al-Aqsa Mosque into a fait accompli. With the courage they took from Trump, they tried to ignore the Muslim resistance by trying to make this fait accompli complete.
Israel has not recognized or implemented any decision of the UN because it believed in its power and thought it could do anything with that power. As long as it believed that there was no force to stop it, it became more and more arrogant and ruthless. What's worse is that some Muslim countries also believe in this power. In recent years, under the guise of "normalization," the new relationships between Islamic countries and Israel have reached a level of almost submission to Israel, thinking that Israel is invincible and the dominant power, but they do not realize that they are actually feeding this myth by doing so.
Today's world order is revealing the clear truth: being right in any case, even being absolutely right, is not enough in the simplest case, and it does not save you from an injustice you have suffered. Proving that you are right does not happen with lawsuits or files. You need power, and when necessary, you must take your rights yourself.
In Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan had been waiting in vain for years for its occupied territories to be confirmed as its own by the international community and returned to it. It showed that it was right and took its right with its own power when it gathered its strength.
Even if the occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel is confirmed by the UN and the entire international community, no one is willing to confront Israel to take Palestinians' rights. Palestinian Muslims had to show their power to take their rights in their just cause, and they did.
After October 7th, the world will certainly be a completely different world. This will have very comprehensive effects. We will continue to watch.
It turns out that those who accused us of being "Arab lovers" during the recent debates on foreign enmity have all suddenly revealed themselves as enthusiastic "Israel supporters" after Hamas's operation. It's quite evident that their hostility towards Syrians, refugees, and Arabs stemmed from their admiration for Israel. It's no coincidence that both Kurdish nationalists and Turkish nationalists have converged in their support for Israel and opposition to Hamas. The lines are now clear.
As we've said before, we'll witness even more surprises. This event will undoubtedly be the catalyst for significant changes.
