October 18, 2024
Nasser Kandil
• This Palestinian fighter has lived a life that exemplifies heroism, valour, and bravery, making him a rare icon of resistance. His clarity in understanding the true essence of the struggle against the entity – better than even its own leaders – coupled with his exceptional leadership, has allowed him to inspire trust and love among fighters. His strategic planning and ability to harness the human and material capacities of the resistance have led to pivotal turning points in the history of the Palestinian cause.
• History will record that Sinwar was the architect behind the event he named ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’, which became the most significant Arab and global event of the year, if not longer. He overturned the prevailing political climate that aimed to marginalise the Palestinian cause, facilitating normalisation with the entity and legitimising its occupation. Instead, he shifted the tide, placing Palestine back at the forefront of international and Arab discourse, proving that any regional arrangement that ignores Palestinian rights is nothing but an illusion that cannot endure.
• Sinwar succeeded in demonstrating the resistance’s ability to shatter the myth of the invincible Israeli army, dragging its reputation through the mud in a way that will haunt it for generations. The ‘Flood’ operation, which he meticulously planned, prepared, and executed after his release from captivity, has forever stained the image of the occupying forces. He gave his life as a martyr a year after the operation, igniting an enduring discussion within the entity about its existential crisis. Who can guarantee the entity’s security and survival when Palestinians have shown that they can repeat what they accomplished during the ‘Flood’? On the other hand, he has given Palestinians hope in reclaiming their homeland and rights, showing them what is possible and what this will require.
• Through this dramatic event, Sinwar opened the world’s eyes to the reality of the Palestinian cause. The brutal exposure of the entity’s deep-rooted criminality, which had long masked itself as a victim and a beacon of civility and progress, was now undeniable. The world, particularly its youth, is now embracing the Palestinian narrative of justice, occupation, racism, and genocide. Sinwar’s war has birthed a new cultural consciousness among generations that can no longer be ignored.
• Sinwar denied his enemy the claim of superior intelligence, evading their efforts to locate and assassinate him. He fell to the occupation’s bullets, fighting with his rifle as a true resistor. The occupation’s forces and intelligence services only identified him after his martyrdom, contradicting their accusations that he hid behind hostages in fortified tunnels using them as human shields.
• In captivity, Sinwar embodied resilience and leadership, becoming a unifying figure among Palestinian and Arab prisoners. He used his imprisonment as an opportunity to learn more about the enemy, mastering its language, gathering crucial information, and turning his captivity into a strategic advantage. After his release, he reshaped Hamas and the Al-Qassam Brigades, steering them toward prioritising the ‘Flood’ plan. He also liberated Hamas from the burden of guilt for its misguided stance during the war on Syria, guiding the movement back to its rightful place within the axis of resistance, culminating in the moment of the ‘Flood’. This support from the axis of resistance was symbolised by the unmatched solidarity of the great leader, who captured the essence of martyrdom Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, while Ismail Haniyeh, his lifelong comrade, entrusted him with the mantle of leadership and the resistance’s future after his crowned martyrdom.
• Sinwar’s legacy ensures that the resistance remains steadfast, proving that no cost will ever lead to the abandonment of the Palestinian cause. His martyrdom will only strengthen the resistance’s resolve, making it clear that the occupation cannot hope to gain control over Gaza. The crimes the occupier commits daily only deepen the conviction of the resistance: for Palestinians, the only fates are victory or martyrdom. Any potential prisoner exchange will be far more complex without Sinwar’s leadership, as he alone possessed the unique authority to negotiate terms, supported by the fighters. His successors will face a much more difficult and intricate process.
• Like Gaza, Lebanon remains an open front of war where the entity cannot dream of political or military achievements. The only way to end the war will be through retreat, and the longer the war drags on, the heavier the price for both continuing and withdrawing. This curse, the curse of Sinwar, will haunt the entity and its leaders for generations.
