Why Gaza ceasefire is major victory for Hamas

Pars Today – As the third year of the Gaza genocide began, a ceasefire agreement was reached through indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, with the involvement of Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, and the United States, officially bringing the Gaza war to an end.

The ceasefire ending the Gaza war is seen as a victory for Hamas and a defeat for Israel for several reasons. Israel had carried out two years of unprecedented genocide with the aim of destroying Hamas and occupying Gaza. After two years, Hamas remains intact, forcing Israel to negotiate a peace agreement to end the conflict.

Additionally, the ceasefire has triggered a wave of displaced Palestinians returning to Gaza, effectively halting plans for forced displacement and full occupation of the Strip.

Some terms of the ceasefire are considered significant achievements for Hamas. Twenty Israeli captives will be released in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian detainees, including 250 serving life sentences. This clause was agreed upon after two years in which Netanyahu attempted to free Israeli hostages through military action, but he was ultimately forced to accept a political agreement.

Under the agreement, Israeli forces must withdraw from occupied areas of Gaza. This is a major gain, as Netanyahu and his cabinet had defined full occupation of Gaza as a primary objective.

Another important provision of the agreement is that Gaza will be administered by Palestinians. Critics of Netanyahu within the Occupied Territories argue that accepting Palestinian administration effectively amounts to U.S. and Israeli recognition of a Palestinian government. In fact, these critics see this clause as a success for international efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state.

Another crucial issue concerns the disarmament of Hamas. While the U.S. and Israel have demanded Hamas give up its weapons, no agreement was reached on this matter. Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesperson, stated that Hamas will not lay down its arms and will continue to use them to defend Palestinians.

Significantly, there are serious concerns about the reliability of the U.S. and Israel, with fears that after the release of Israeli hostages, they may resume war against Gaza to destroy Hamas and fully occupy the Strip.

Although distrust of the U.S. and Israel is well-founded, any violation of the agreement and resumption of hostilities would deal a serious blow to America’s global standing. Meanwhile, it would not affect Hamas’s military position, as the group remains armed and capable of continuing the fight against Israel.

Finally, it is noteworthy that the Gaza war ended in October, the same month as the Al-Aqsa Storm operation in 2023 took place. The ceasefire was not a result of Israel’s military victory but was achieved through the steadfast resistance of the people of Gaza.

Mahmoud Mardawi, a senior leader of Hamas, said that Gaza triumphed through steadfastness and unity, imposing its will on a tyrannical enemy. He emphasized that the ceasefire agreement is not a favor from anyone, but rather the result of the legendary steadfastness of the Palestinian people—especially Gaza’s fighters—and the sacrifices and heroism that created the October 7 epic.