The Israeli regime for decades has projected an image of intelligence and military superiority. Operation al-Aqsa Storm shattered that notion in a single morning. The operation irreversibly broke the enemy’s power; hence, the Israeli regime stood humiliated before the world.
The operation exposed what had been hidden, such as the destruction of hospitals, schools and mosques, the slaughter of children and women, and the hypocrisy of those who claim to defend human rights. All these crimes became clear to the world. The resistance’s ability to penetrate areas under Israeli control, seize military positions and capture Israeli personnel dealt a psychological and strategic blow to the occupiers that was unprecedented since 1948.
On the second anniversary of Operation al-Aqsa Storm, we spoke with Nasser Abu-Sharif, the representative of the Islamic Jihad movement in Iran.
Two years have passed since Operation al-Aqsa Storm, how is this event considered in the history of Palestinian resistance?
Operation al-Aqsa Storm was a turning point because it broke the equation of Israel’s absolute superiority and placed the Palestinian struggle at the forefront of global attention. The new rule of the game is mutual deterrence. The enemy can inflict harm but cannot finish the task, and the domestic and international costs of aggression have risen sharply for it.
Given spontaneous and popular global actions in support of the Palestinian people, such as the departures of the Madleen, Hanzala and Sumud ships toward Gaza, what message does Operation al-Aqsa Storm send to the Islamic nation and freedom-loving peoples?
Such voluntary and popular actions carry two messages. One message addresses Palestinians who defend Quds and the land of Palestine. The other message addresses the world, showing that people have grown weary of the occupier’s oppression of the Palestinian people and are trying to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip.
What is the current status of the resistance axis and its post-war priorities?
The resistance axis now stands at a higher level of coordination and more interconnected deterrence. Priorities for the resistance axis include consolidating a ceasefire and protecting civilians, unifying the Palestinian political path, developing smart deterrence and accelerating legal and diplomatic efforts to pursue Israel’s crimes.
What effect did Operation al-Aqsa Storm have on Israeli society and the future of Netanyahu’s cabinet?
Operation al-Aqsa Storm revealed the regime’s failures such as a crisis of confidence in Israel’s security institutions and the regime’s economic erosion. Even if Netanyahu’s current cabinet remains in place for a time, its strategic horizon is narrow and costly.
How has the culture of resistance spread among a new generation of Palestinians?
Practical resistance has become a norm. Studying under fire, volunteering, survival entrepreneurship and producing content in multiple languages define the new generation’s culture of resistance. Resistance has shifted from a slogan to a way of life.
Did Operation al-Aqsa Storm create a global front against Tel Aviv’s occupation policies?
Yes. It created not only a military front but also a multi-layered network of moral and legal pressure on Israel. Examples include the increase in recognition for a Palestinian state, restrictions on selling and giving arms to Israel, increase in international cases against the regime, and intensified waves of sanctions against Israelis. These are instances of multi-level pressure on the regime.
What do global reactions, especially the positions of Western governments, mean for the future of the international order?
After October 7, a deep rift has opened between governments and public opinion. The practical message is that international humanitarian law becomes a cost-imposing lever and also the monopoly of the Western narrative is eroding. We are moving toward ethical and legal plurality that makes the occupation costlier.
What effect did the operation have on the cohesion and formation of the resistance axis in the region?
The level of on-the-ground coordination among the resistance fronts increased, while the intensity of clashes was managed to avoid a full-scale war. The resistance axis gained clearer functional cohesion and increased its capacity to impose sustained costs on Israel.
What change did Operation al-Aqsa Storm bring to the deterrence equation?
Operation al-Aqsa Storm transformed Israel’s one-sided deterrence into relative mutual deterrence. Any wide-scale aggression now carries costs in depth and growing political isolation, even as the enemy’s striking power should not be underestimated.
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