Arab youths heartened by Hamas’ military superiority
By Syed Ali Hassan
Iran Daily’s correspondent in Pakistan
It has become clearer that Hamas’ military superiority over Israel has sparked a movement among Arab youth, which could potentially bring the end of Israel’s influence within certain Muslim governments.
After 70 years of Israeli aggression and mass killings against Palestinians, Hamas, for the first time, challenged Israeli arrogance through a sensitive operation aimed at freeing their land. A groundswell of support for the Palestinian cause has been witnessed across Arab countries, permeating mosques, football stadiums, and urban centers. This surge in popular solidarity has generated a palpable atmosphere that calls for intergovernmental unity.
From Ramallah to Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad, and Cairo, the streets were awash with jubilation as people handed out sweets, danced, and prayed in unwavering support of the resistance against Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
In the Lebanese city of Sidon, residents congregated in public squares, igniting firecrackers and chanting praises for the Palestinian resistance fighters, which resonated from local mosques.
Taking to Instagram, Lebanese comedian Shadan Fakih elucidated the fervent outpouring of support, an expression that has faced scrutiny in Western countries. In a video message, he noted, “What else should we expect from Palestinians? To endure daily losses and do nothing? To silently wither away? The right to take up arms and fight is theirs, and they are exercising it.” She further noted that despite her opposition to Hamas, she stands firmly in support of armed resistance against Israeli injustices and apartheid.
In the Tunisian capital, Palestinian flags flew high in schools, while a coalition of political parties and organizations issued a call for widespread rallies in a show of solidarity. The Tunisian presidency unequivocally voiced its full support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate right to resist the unlawful occupation.
Over the Damascus Opera House, the Palestinian flag illuminated the night sky. Syria, a country repeatedly targeted by Israeli aggression, and the Golan Heights, a mountainous region that has been under Israeli occupation since the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, exhibited a united front, with both their government and the people showing support for Hamas.
In the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, paramilitary forces defiantly stomped on the Israeli flag and incinerated it during gatherings in Tahrir Square.
Even the Gulf states joined in this wave of solidarity with Palestine despite Israel’s normalized relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain since 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords.