Despite Israel’s temporary success in weakening the military forces of Hamas and Hezbollah, the country has not managed to completely destroy these groups or quell the desire of Palestinians for their own state. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, recognize this as a temporary setback.

Since Israel launched its war against Palestinians in Gaza 15 months ago, tensions have remained high. The conflict erupted after Hamas’ successful operation in Israel on October 7th, 2023, which led to a bloody confrontation.

Have Israel’s efforts to destroy Hamas and Hezbollah achieved their goals? What is the current status of these organizations? What challenges do these organizations face going forward? What steps might Netanyahu take in the future, and what lies ahead for him and his country?

The Crisis for Israel and the West

Undoubtedly, Israel and Netanyahu are going through a deep political crisis. Their active and aggressive propaganda efforts have failed to convince the international community that they were right. The mass killings committed by the Israeli military in Gaza were watched with horror and anger by the world, and they happened in real time.

As popular discontent grew, Western countries found themselves in a moral and political dilemma. Many European states began to move away from their traditional unconditional support for Israel and even questioned the established “truths” about Israel’s historical past. Some countries, such as Belgium and Spain, called for an end to the aggression against Gaza and for the establishment of a Palestinian State.

Even the United States, which has been the main supporter of Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, has expressed concern. On December 12, 2023, President Joe Biden spoke at a Democratic event in Washington and said that Israel is losing support in Europe and other parts of the world because of the numerous civilian casualties caused by indiscriminate bombings in the Gaza Strip.

Biden called on Israel to learn from the experiences of the United States after the September 11 terrorist attacks. He said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should change course and noted that the current Israeli government, which is the most right-wing in Israel’s history, is making things difficult for itself. Biden urged the Israeli leadership to make the difficult but right decision.

Although these statements reflect a significant change in the official position of the Western world, they have not led to concrete actions that could end Israeli aggression in Gaza or start the process of implementing Palestinian rights and creating a Palestinian state.

However, the growing public support for Palestinian rights and the protests against the Israeli occupation, as well as some European countries’ decision to recognize Palestine, show that Israel has not been able to completely eradicate Hamas and achieve peace without this Palestinian group in the end.

At what stage are resistance organizations?

It is important to distinguish between the concepts of defeat and destruction of an enemy. If we consider the goal of Israeli aggression, which was to destroy Hamas and Hezbollah, we can conclude that Israel suffered a military setback in terms of human and material losses, as well as discredit at the international level. However, neither Hamas nor Hezbollah have been destroyed. Therefore, Israel, under Netanyahu’s leadership, cannot claim a complete victory or gain advantage.

Despite limited resources, Hamas and Hezbollah continue to conduct successful operations and inflict damage on their enemies. Both organizations rely on local support, ensuring their sustainability.

Thirdly, the main driver for the growth and survival of Hamas and Hezbollah, among other resistance groups, remains unchanged: Israel’s continued illegal occupation of Palestinian, Lebanese, and Syrian territories. 76 years after the Nakba, Israel continues to deny the rights of Palestinians to self-determination and a state.

Despite the extreme brutality of Israel’s policies towards Lebanon, Hamas and Hezbollah have not only managed to survive but are likely to recover and become stronger in the future. However, they face a crisis that could lead to their destruction if not addressed. This crisis is not due to military or organizational weaknesses on Israel’s part, but rather internal problems caused by various factors.

First, there is a tension between resistance and democracy. While most resistance movements do not always follow democratic principles, this is paradoxical given that their goals of liberation are based on those principles. Many resistance groups, like Hamas and Hezbollah, also do not adhere to democratic norms internally or in their interactions with other groups. These groups seek to monopolize power and make unilateral decisions about ideology and tactics, which can hinder their development and prevent them from achieving their objectives.

Another important aspect is the relationship between resistance movements and regional powers. Recent events have clearly demonstrated that foreign policy ties can directly affect the stability and effectiveness of these movements. Nevertheless, this does not imply that resistance groups should avoid establishing international contacts and creating alliances. Rather, the issue lies in the nature of these ties and alliances, considering the policies of partner countries and the level of mutual influence.

The current situation with Hezbollah is a clear example of this issue. Its close ties with Iran and the former government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have caused difficulties for the group due to the policies of these countries. Hezbollah’s support for the Assad regime during the Arab Spring highlights this problem. In addition, Hamas and Hezbollah need to carefully consider their political alliances and how they affect each other’s goals and policies.

A third trend is ideological flexibility. This will be an important factor for Hamas and Hezbollah in the future as political resistance groups. They cannot abandon their goals and values, but their success will depend on their ability to prioritize national identity and freedom over ideological principles.

This is especially true for resistance movements that have an Islamist orientation. These movements should consider diversifying their organizational structures by including components that are not directly related to their ideological beliefs. This would allow them to focus more on the national aspects of their struggle and give their national liberation movement greater momentum.

Such an approach would be beneficial for all resistance groups, but it is especially important for those that are focused on Islam. By expanding their organizations to include elements that are unrelated to their religious beliefs, these groups can better focus on national values and goals. This can help them achieve greater success in their struggle for freedom and independence.

Viktor Mikhin, a correspondent member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences and an expert on the Middle East. Courtesy

https://journal-neo.su/2025/01/07/palestine-israel-the-struggle-continues/