Watan-Many Arab, Western, and even Israeli analyses have unanimously characterized the prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and the occupation forces as a triumph for the resistance and a setback that undermines Israel’s declared objectives in the war on Gaza. The deal is seen as a glaring failure on the part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in using military force to secure the release of prisoners.
Many influencers on social media platforms have discussed this deal as a significant victory for Palestinian resistance. This is evident in the joyful receptions and grand celebrations by the released prisoners of the occupation, contrasting with the subdued gatherings and mixed emotions among the families of resistance fighters in Israel.
بعد إن هزم #اسرائيل
وجعلها تركع صاغرة لتلبية شروطه.كعربي مسلم.. هل تقبل أن يكون #ابو_عبيدة قائد اركان الجيوش العربية و الإسلامية. ❓#كتائب_االقسام #غزة_تنتصر pic.twitter.com/7zL4VIT3KB
— سارة أردوغان.. تركيا 🇹🇷 (@sarahArdogn) November 24, 2023
According to numerous influencers, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, managed to “subdue the enemy, leaving it frustrated, and compel it to complete the deal,” an achievement that the armies with budgets in the hundreds of billions of dollars from Muslim nations have failed to accomplish.
https://twitter.com/amal198902/status/1727685231509930299?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1727685231509930299%7Ctwgr%5E5df687679314a546dae78ce3a5a32d4f794f8287%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.watanserb.com%2F2023%2F11%2F25%2FD983D98AD981-D986D8ACD8ADD8AA-D8A7D984D985D982D8A7D988D985D8A9-D8A8D8AAD8ADD982D98AD982-D985D8A7-D8B9D8ACD8B2D8AA-D8B9D986D987-D8ACD98A%2F
This is confirmed by a report from “Al Jazeera Net,” citing Yedioth Ahronoth and the political analyst Nahum Barnea. Barnea, in his article titled “Receiving Them in Silence,” emphasized that victory drums cannot be sounded in Israel, given that the occupation did not achieve its goals and failed to make any progress. He noted that it couldn’t secure the release of any detainee as a result of the war, despite suffering significant losses, and the exchange deal happened suddenly and reluctantly.
نجحت المقاومة الفلسطينيه في غزة في فرض واقع جديد على الصهاينه وانتهت لعبة المراوغه .لكل اسير صهيوني يتم اطلاق ثلاثة مختطفين فلسطينيين تدل على تحول استراتيجي لصالح الشعب الفلسطيني لأول مره منذ 75عام. المهم ان لا يطعن العرب المقاومة من الخلف فهذ انتصار استراتيجي للمقاومه وكل العرب
— N H M (@NasserIbnHamad) November 25, 2023
In the mere discussion of a ceasefire in Gaza, Netanyahu faces the risk of disintegration and collapse. Consequently, he celebrates what he has done as an achievement. According to Barnea, Netanyahu prefers burying his head in the sand rather than acknowledging the reality that he yielded to the Qassam Brigades.
راقتني كثير كثير :
*الجيوش العربية..*
*مثل الرصيد المجاني!*
*لا يمكن إستخدامه،*
*ٳلّا ضمن الشبكة فقط !!— عدنان باوزير (@adnanbawazer6) November 25, 2023
Zero Achievements for the Occupation in Gaza!
In this context, Yemeni political and media activist Latif Al-Fatih remarked, “The heroism, sacrifices, courage, and resilience of the Palestinian resistance in Gaza are achievements that Arab armies couldn’t accomplish in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1970, and even until 1972.”
He continued, emphasizing, “Those armies faced defeat against Israel within hours in a time when the population of Zionists in Palestinian territories did not exceed about 400,000.”
بطولات وفداء واقدام وصمود المقاومة الفلسطينية في غزة لم تستطيع الجيوش العربية تحقيق ذلك بعام 1948/ 1956 1967/ 1970حتى عام 1972 وباءت ذلك الجيوش في الهزيمة امام اسرائيل بغضون ساعات في زمان لا يتجاوز عدد سكان الصهاينة بالاراضي الفلسطينيه بحوالي 400 الف pic.twitter.com/GRLZW75yrj
— لطف الفتاحي-Lotf Al-Fattahi (@YHKANIFRCD2024k) November 21, 2023
According to a tweet by one of the users on the (X) platform and as reported by “Watan,” the occupation forces have failed to achieve any accomplishments despite a month and a half of the brutal war they waged against the Gaza Strip.
The tweeter says, “Announcing a ceasefire for four days is a victory for the resistance! A month and a half into the start of the war with the world’s most prepared army, they couldn’t free a single captive or determine their whereabouts. Meanwhile, Al-Qassam Brigades daily release videos targeting the enemy’s vehicles and soldiers with explosives they place by hand on tanks to detonate them.”
Meanwhile, “Wafa Amir” pointed to the prisoner exchange deal and the scene of the female captive waving to Al-Qassam Brigades during her handover, commenting, “The gesture of the elderly woman to the Al-Qassam Brigades camera at the moment of her release did not come from emptiness but because of what she saw as sincerity in the good treatment. Only the Zionist Arabs will suffer.”
Al-Sinwar’s Promise for the Return to Home
An authentic Yemeni account wrote, “Al-Sinwar’s promise for you to return home. Thank God for this great victory. By Allah, the liberation of sisters from the Zionists’ prisons is the greatest triumph.”
Another tweeter added, “The resistance broke the siege that all puppet states failed to overcome, provided aid, and liberated male and female prisoners.”
Mohamed Jamal, on the Ex platform, commented on the prisoner exchange deal and the Israeli occupation’s submission, “The enemy deceived more than once to achieve a temporary truce, thinking it could free prisoners through military and security operations.”
Jamal further added, “After realizing (the occupation’s) failure, the enemy agreed to a truce on the resistance’s terms. Undoubtedly, it is an initial victory for the resistance in an ongoing war, and what is to come, with certainty in God, will be in favor of the resistance.”
Another tweeter shared a highly expressive cartoon showing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu kneeling to sign and acknowledge the ceasefire, compelled rather than having a choice. Meanwhile, a member of Al-Qassam Brigades sits across, placing his leg over the other in a major humiliation to the occupation.
Arab Leaders’ Inaction and Armies Safeguarding Israel’s Security
In recent days, activists have pointed out that the official Arab regimes are not expected to send armies to fight in Gaza. Instead, they are called upon to adopt a unified Arab stance to save the population from the humanitarian tragedy associated with the siege and killing of innocent people.
Beyond the steadfast support of Arab populations for Palestine, the positions of Arab regimes diverge. Some align with the Israeli stance, blaming Palestinian resistance, while others seek to pressure towards a ceasefire. A third category remains “out of service,” offering no voice regarding the events in Gaza.
The official Arab stance’s failure to support Palestinians facing oppression in the besieged territory is attributed by analysts to the close ties of most ruling regimes with dominant powers, especially the United States and its ally, Israel.
Activists argue that Arab armies, funded with billions of dollars, now protect Israel by placing (collaborator) leaders at the helm of Arab states who serve the occupier’s agenda.
Many are not surprised by the official Arab stance towards the massacres committed by the occupation against the people of Gaza. According to them, the Arab system has disintegrated and ended three decades ago, making it impossible to speak of a unified Arab stance.
عجزت كل الجيوش العربية عن تحرير أسيرة واحدة من سجون الاحتلال.
ووحدها المقاومة استطاعت فعل ذلك.
شاهدوا فرحة هذه الأسيرة بلقاء والدتها pic.twitter.com/g0p1hYCxj3— فؤاد كوثر | Fuad Kawther (@fuadkawther) November 24, 2023