‘Al-Aqsa Storm’ overshadows normalization
What are the distinct differences between Operation ‘Al-Aqsa Storm’ against Israel and the previous Palestinian operations? What special message does it contain? Will it have a special effect on the Arab normalization with Israel? Iran Daily has raised these questions with Mehdi Fazaeli, the deputy chief of the Office for the Preservation and Publication of the Works of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution. He believes that the operation overshadows the process of normalizing relations with Israel.
IRAN DAILY: It seems that ‘Operation Al-Aqsa’ against Israel has striking features compared to past operations by Palestinian fighters. What are these differences?
FAZAELI: Perhaps the most significant difference, which also carries a specific message, was the element of surprise that caught the Israelis off guard. Israelis have always claimed to have complete intelligence dominance over Palestinian activities, but in this operation, they were notably taken by surprise.
Another major aspect of the operation was its all-out nature. For the first time, the Palestinian Resistance Movement simultaneously launched attacks on Israeli targets within the occupied territories from land, sea, and air. The fact that resistance fighters openly infiltrated the occupied territories is of great importance.
Another noticeable difference in this operation, compared to similar ones in past years, is the unprecedented number of Israeli fatalities and the successful outcomes. The number of dead and captured Israeli soldiers has been at a record high.
Does this operation, with the qualities you mentioned, which reflects the power balance between Israelis and Palestinians, carry a particular message?
Certainly, it carries a specific message. It is a clear message illustrating the changing conditions and the power balance in the region and between Israel and Palestinians. It affirms the Israeli regime is collapsing, a prediction long foretold by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution. Now it has become evident that the trajectory of Israel's decline may be happening even faster than anticipated.
Moreover, on a global scale, it signifies the increasing strength of the Resistance Movement against global arrogant powers, who are currently on the decline. This operation will undoubtedly receive extensive analyses in leading strategic centers and international think tanks.
Considering the statements declared by Hamas and other Palestinian resistance groups, ‘Al-Aqsa Storm’ marks a turning point in the quest for Palestinian rights. As long as these rights are not realized and the occupiers do not vacate Palestinian territories, the resistance will continue.
In recent days, various claims and reports have been circulating in the media regarding the seriousness of some regional Arab countries to normalize relations with Israel. Will the latest Palestinian operation have any impact on the normalization process?
Certainly, it will have an impact. Alongside the inclination of certain states to normalize relations with Israel, various polls suggest that the majority of people in Arab Muslim countries do not support political ties with the Israeli regime. Israel is seen as a problematic entity, and any country's association with it reflects negatively on that nation.
Some states may have made the wrong assessment in their pursuit of normalization, but Muslim peoples do not approve of such acts. Iran’s Leader Ayatollah Khamenei recently referred to these efforts as "betting on a losing horse."
In the Palestinians’ operation against the Israelis, the failure of the Israeli horse was clearly visible. Therefore, it will undoubtedly impact the regional power balance and overshadow the normalization process. Unless some Arab states refuse to see or hear this clear message, they will also have to bear substantial costs. We must await the evident impact of this operation on the normalization of relations with Israel.