Press TV – November 27, 2024
Ceasefire with Hezbollah ends Israel’s illusion of reshaping West Asia by force: Hamas
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says the ceasefire Israel eventually clinched with Hezbollah has shattered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “illusion” of reshaping West Asia by force.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu finally accepted the deal, which is expected to end the regime’s months-long deadly escalation against Lebanon.
It came after a meeting of his “security cabinet” to discuss a proposal put forward by the United States and France
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“The enemy’s acceptance of the agreement with Lebanon without fulfilling the conditions it set is an important milestone in shattering Netanyahu’s illusions of changing the map of the Middle East by force,” Hamas said in a statement published on its Telegram channel on Wednesday.
It said Netanyahu’s “illusions of defeating the Resistance forces or disarming them” were also sent to the oblivion.
The Israeli regime has killed more than 3,700 people in Lebanon, including 42 who perished across the country on Tuesday, besides wounding nearly 15,700 others.
“We commend the pivotal role played by the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, in support of the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian resistance, and the great sacrifices made by Hezbollah and its leadership, led by the late Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.”
“We appreciate the steadfastness of the brotherly Lebanese people and their constant solidarity with the Palestinian people in confronting the Zionist occupation and its brutal aggression, asking God Almighty to protect Lebanon and its people from all harm and evil,” Hamas said.
Israeli military commanders had pledged to eradicate Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. However, they were ultimately compelled to accept the ceasefire agreement without achieving any of those goals.
“We affirm that this agreement would not have been achieved without the steadfastness of the Resistance and the popular support around it. We are confident that the Resistance Axis will continue to support our people and back their battle with all possible means,” Hamas said in its statement.
Hezbollah has been responding to the Israeli aggression with hundreds of successful retaliatory strikes against various sensitive and strategic military targets across the occupied territories.
The Lebanese resistance movement recently announced killing more than 100 Israeli troops and injuring upwards of a thousand others during the strikes.
How Hezbollah's 'Khaybar operations' forced Israeli regime to seek ceasefire
By Alireza Akbari
In a statement on Tuesday, shortly after the ceasefire agreement was announced, Hezbollah's operations room revealed the private residence of Israeli Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar in Tel Aviv was targeted on November 18, 2024.
The attack, it stated, was executed using a “squadron of advanced attack drones." However, the news was censored by the Israeli regime to avoid further embarrassment. 
It wasn't the first such high-precision strike targeting a vital site. On October 19, the holiday residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Caesarea was attacked by a Hezbollah drone.
After initial hesitance, Netanyahu’s spokesman acknowledged that one of three drones launched from Lebanon successfully struck the prime minister’s home.
Eyewitnesses reported a “large volley of rockets” from Lebanon serving as decoys to facilitate the successful drone strike, triggering sirens across northern occupied territories.
The drone landed inside the highly-fortified house and caused significant damage, although the details were censored like attacks on other high-value targets in the occupied territories.
The successful infiltration of Hezbollah’s drone, which traveled nearly 70 kilometers undetected inside the occupied territories, sparked great concern in the power corridors of Tel Aviv, according to analysts.
Hezbollah’s (now martyred) media office head, Mohammad Afif, later claimed responsibility for the operation during a news conference on October 22. He emphasized that while Netanyahu was unharmed in the attack, “the coming days and nights and the (battle) fields are between us.”
Following the drone strike on Netanyahu’s residence, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, resulting in an unprecedented death toll among civilians.
Less than a month later, on November 16, amid intensified Israeli airstrikes on civilian areas in Beirut, Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea came under attack again, this time involving “two flares.”
Israeli police reported that the flares were detected near Netanyahu's residence, landing in the yard.
The elite Israeli Golani Brigade, one of the five infantry brigades of the Israeli army and the most notorious, also suffered a significant blow on October 13, 2024, when its command center was attacked by the Lebanese movement’s drones near Binyamina, south of occupied Haifa.
Hezbollah stated that the attack was in response to “Zionist aggressions, especially on the neighborhoods of Al-Nuwairi and Al-Basta in the capital Beirut and other regions of Lebanon,” as well as in retaliation for the massacres committed by the Israeli forces in Gaza.
The strike, which penetrated deep inside occupied territories with Hezbollah’s drone traveling nearly 40 miles undetected, resulted in dozens of Israeli soldiers killed and hundreds more severely injured.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting the Israeli military camp with a “swarm” of drones.
In a separate statement, the group also announced it had struck the Israeli Tsnobar logistics base in the Golan Heights with a missile, sparking more concerns and fears in the enemy camp.
This drone strike occurred on the same day that the United States announced it would send a new “air defense system to Israel to enhance its protection against missile attacks.”
Since October 2023, the Lebanese resistance has stood in solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians, employing a tit-for-tat strategy against the Israeli regime by targeting its military bases.
The resistance movement intensified its operations after the regime launched all-out aggression against Lebanon and assassinated Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in late September.
On October 1, 2024, Hezbollah launched its series of “Khaybar” operations in retaliation for the targeting of civilians in Gaza and Beirut and the massacres committed by the Israeli regime.
The notorious Israeli cyber unit 8200 was the first target of these operations, with Hezbollah fighters firing a barrage of Fadi-4 missiles at the “Glilot” base, which houses the Military Intelligence Unit 8200 and the Mossad headquarters on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, as well as the Sde Dov airbase.
On October 3, Hezbollah fighters targeted the “Nasher” base east of occupied Haifa with a barrage of Fadi-2 rockets. Three days later, on October 6, the Israeli “Carmel” base, located south of occupied Haifa, was struck by a barrage of Fadi-1 missiles.
On October 7, the cyber unit 8200 faced another attack from Hezbollah, which launched a barrage of rockets aimed at the “Glilot” base. Nearly a week later, as part of the Khaybar operations, the Islamic Resistance executed a precision rocket barrage on the "Tira Carmel" base in southern occupied Haifa.
On October 13, in addition to the attack on the Golani Brigade, Hezbollah launched a significant rocket barrage on the Rehabilitation and Maintenance Center (7200) south of occupied Haifa. The following day, the “Tira Carmel” base was again targeted by Hezbollah with a barrage of rockets.
On October 17, the Israeli "Stella Maris" naval base northwest of occupied Haifa and the "Beit Lid" base east of occupied Netanya were targeted by Hezbollah in a coordinated rocket barrage.
The following day, October 18, Hezbollah continued its Khaybar series of operations, launching a swarm of attack drones at the "Ein Shemer" base, which serves as a missile defense and regional brigade base east of Khdeira.
The Israeli military's "Kiryat Eliezer" site, the main air defense base west of occupied Haifa, was also struck by Hezbollah missiles on the same day, along with the "Nashrim" base southeast of occupied Haifa, which came under attack from a squadron of drones.
On October 19, Hezbollah launched a significant missile barrage on the Israeli military base in "Nasher." The "Kiryat Ata" settlement east of occupied Haifa also experienced a qualitative rocket barrage as part of the Khaybar operations.
The following day, October 20, Hezbollah escalated its attacks by targeting the "Samson" base, a command supply center and regional supply unit west of Lake Tabariyya, with a substantial rocket barrage for the first time.
On October 21, the "Glilot" base, associated with the military intelligence Unit 8200 in the suburbs of Tel Aviv, was bombed with precision rockets as part of the Khaybar series.
In a series of attacks on October 22, Hezbollah targeted the "Nirit" Dome on the outskirts of Tel Aviv and the "Stella Maris" naval base northwest of occupied Haifa with qualitative missiles. The movement also struck the TAAS Military Industries Company in the suburbs of Tel Aviv with precision missiles.
On October 23, Hezbollah continued its attacks by launching an aerial attack with a squadron of drones on the "Eliakim" base south of occupied Haifa.
The resistance movement also targeted the "Hatzor" settlement with a precision rocket barrage. Additionally, the TAAS Military Industries Company was struck again with accurate missile fire.
On October 24, Hezbollah bombed the "Nashrim" base southeast of occupied Haifa with qualitative missiles. On October 25, it targeted the "Ramat David" air base with a significant missile strike.
On October 26, Hezbollah launched an aerial attack with a squadron of drones as part of its Khaybar operations, targeting the "Tel Nof" airbase south of Tel Aviv and hitting its targets with precision.
The Lebanese resistance movement also struck gatherings of Israeli regime forces at the “Ayelet” base with a qualitative rocket barrage on the same day.
Two days later, Hezbollah targeted the "Yodfat" Military Industries Company southeast of occupied Akka with an attack drone, successfully hitting its mark, along with a qualitative rocket barrage on the "Stella Maris" naval base northwest of occupied Haifa.
On October 30, Hezbollah executed a complex attack involving qualitative missiles and a squadron of drones aimed at the "Ein Shemer" base, a missile air defense and regional brigade facility east of Khdeira. The attack also targeted Israeli enemy gatherings at the "Eliakim" camp of the Northern Command, south of occupied Haifa, and the "Shraga" base north of Akka, with the missiles and drones successfully evading interception as they traversed occupied Palestinian territory.
On the same day, the Islamic Resistance bombed the "Adam" training camp for special units southeast of Tel Aviv with qualitative missiles as part of the Khaybar operations.
The Khaybar series continued into November, with Hezbollah targeting the "Palmachim" Air Base, which houses a military research center and radar for the HITS system, south of Tel Aviv, using a squadron of drones on November 2.
The "Zevulun" military industries base north of occupied Haifa was also attacked that day.
On November 3, Hezbollah launched a squadron of drones on the “Eliakim” base, which includes training camps for the Northern Command, south of Haifa, accurately hitting its targets.
On November 6, the movement targeted the "Tzrifin" base, which includes military training colleges near Ben Gurion Airport south of Tel Aviv, with a barrage of qualitative missiles.
On the same day, Hezbollah conducted an aerial attack with a squadron of drones on the "Belo" base, associated with the reserve paratrooper brigade of the Israeli army, hitting it for the first time.
On November 7, Hezbollah targeted the "Eliakim" base again with a qualitative missile barrage. The following day, November 8, the resistance movement struck the Haifa Technical Base, an Israeli Air Force facility and training college for Air Force technicians, with a barrage of qualitative missiles.
On the same day, Hezbollah targeted the "MLM" military factory, which produces air and missile defense systems, located 132 kilometers from the Lebanese-Palestinian border south of Tel Aviv, also with a barrage of qualitative missiles.
On November 9, the Islamic Resistance launched its first air attack using a squadron of drones on the "Ein Khozlot" base, a military communications facility located 55 kilometers from the Lebanese-Palestinian border, successfully hitting its targets.
On November 10, Hezbollah conducted an aerial attack with a squadron of drones targeting the "Naoura" base, headquarters of the 36th Division, which houses emergency storage for reserve brigades, located 50 kilometers from the Lebanese-Palestinian border southwest of Lake Tabariyya, striking its targets with precision.
On November 11, the movement launched an air attack with a squadron of drones on the "Regavim" base, the main training base for the Golani Brigade, located 65 kilometers from the Lebanese-Palestinian border south of occupied Haifa, accurately hitting its targets.
On November 12, Hezbollah targeted the “HaHotrim” base, a major Israeli Air Force facility containing equipment and transport formations, located 40 kilometers from the Lebanese-Palestinian border, with a qualitative rocket barrage.
On the same day, the group launched an aerial attack with a squadron of drones on the “Yokneam Illit” factory, a military technology production facility located 50 kilometers from the Lebanese-Palestinian border southeast of occupied Haifa, successfully hitting its targets.
On November 13, the Islamic Resistance carried out its first aerial attack with a squadron of qualitative attack drones on the "HaKirya" base, the headquarters of the Israeli Ministry of War and General Staff, as well as the War Management Room and the Air Force’s Military Control and Oversight Authority in Tel Aviv, accurately striking its targets.
On the same day, the Islamic Resistance targeted the "IWI" Military Weapons Industries Company in Ramat Hasharon, located 110 kilometers from the Lebanese-Palestinian border, with a barrage of qualitative missiles, successfully hitting their targets for the first time.
The following day, November 14, fighters from Hezbollah launched an aerial attack using drones on the “Eliakim” base, which houses training camps affiliated with the Northern Command of the Israeli army, situated 50 kilometers from the Lebanese-Palestinian border south of Haifa.
On November 16, the Islamic Resistance targeted the “Stella Maris” naval base and the special naval missions unit "Shayetet 13" at the Atlit base.
Two days later, on November 18, the group conducted an air attack with a squadron of drones on the "Regavim" base, which contains training camps for the Golani Brigade, located 65 kilometers from the Lebanese-Palestinian border southeast of occupied Haifa, hitting its targets accurately.
On the same day, they launched an aerial attack on the "Beit Lid" base, which includes training camps for the Nahal and Paratroopers Brigades, situated 90 kilometers from the Lebanese-Palestinian border.
On November 21, the group targeted the "Hatzor" Air Base, a key facility housing a qualified reconnaissance formation and squadrons of warplanes, located 150 kilometers from the Lebanese-Palestinian border east of Asdod, with a barrage of qualitative missiles.
The following day, November 22, the Islamic Resistance struck the "Palmachim" base, a primary site for the Israeli Air Force that includes squadrons of unmanned aircraft, military helicopters, a military research center, and the Arrow air and missile defense system.
This operation, located 140 kilometers from the Lebanese-Palestinian border south of Tel Aviv, achieved its intended objectives.
Despite ongoing intelligence surveillance and active engagement by the Israeli air force, the resistance intensified its operations under the Khaybar series, executing precise strikes on strategic centers and military bases up to 145 kilometers into occupied Palestine using advanced missiles and drones.
These well-coordinated attacks reflect a clear strategy, demonstrating full control over battlefield dynamics and thorough assessments of the situation.
Since launching Khaybar operations on October 1, 2024, a total of 56 operations have been conducted, with 18 occurring recently.
Beyond military impacts, these operations have forced over 2 million settlers across more than 5,000 square kilometers to seek shelter and disrupt daily life, causing school closures, business halts, and disrupted air traffic, all in response to the call of "At your service, O Nasrallah."
According to analysts, these operations forced the embattled Israeli regime to involve the United States and France and seek a ceasefire with the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah.
Resistance prevails: Hezbollah’s operations force Netanyahu to surrender in defeat
By Wesam Bahrani
The Israeli premier, quite reluctantly, appeared on air late on Tuesday to announce a ceasefire in Lebanon after his forces failed to occupy even a single village in the Arab country despite unbridled aggression for months.
It took less than two months of the most sophisticated operations by the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah to force Benjamin Netanyahu and other war criminals to beg for a ceasefire.
Contrary to the lies peddled by the embattled Israeli occupation premier who has been under tremendous pressure to end the failed military adventure in both Gaza and Lebanon and against whom the International Criminal Court (ICC) has now issued arrest warrants, this is no victory for the Zionists.
As Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said earlier this week, bombing homes and hospitals and killing innocents is no victory. It is a disgraceful defeat for the occupation.
Since October 8 last year, and particularly over the past two months, Hezbollah's missiles and drones have bypassed all Israeli radar systems daily striking deep inside the occupied territories.
On October 29, a drone targeted the private residence of Netanyahu in the town of Caesarea, which shook the occupation and its military intelligence apparatus.
On Tuesday, Hezbollah’s operations room announced that one of the military targets struck on November 18, 2024, in Tel Aviv was the residence of Israeli Air Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar.
The attack was carried out using a squadron of advanced attack drones, achieving its objectives with precision. This incident has been subjected to strict censorship by the Israeli military, the Hezbollah operations room stated.
On Monday, Hezbollah carried out record 51 operations against the Zionist entity, targeting military sites in Tel Aviv, Haifa and other parts of the occupied territories with surgical precision.
So, the regime realized that continuing the war on Lebanon would have turned Haifa into the northern settlement of Kiryat Shmona (or whatever is left of Kiryat Shmona).
The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon has been bombing Haifa to the extent that the industrial hub of the Zionist occupation went into the dark, which even the Israeli media outlets admitted.
Hezbollah's strategy to defend its country's sovereignty and end Zionist airstrikes against the civilian population has always been to militarily force the regime to a ceasefire.
As the Lebanese resistance began to fire missiles 150 kilometers deep inside occupied Palestine, targeting cities like Umm al-Rashrash (Eilat), the ripple effects were being strongly felt back in Washington DC.
Numerous successful bombing campaigns on the commercial hub of Tel Aviv in response to Zionist airstrikes on Beirut weren’t something Netanyahu and his criminal associates had anticipated.
The damage Hezbollah has managed to inflict in occupied cities across the Zionist occupation of Palestine is what forced Netanyahu to wave the white flag and surrender to the Lebanese resistance.
This 60-day truce, if it holds, is based on UN Security-Council Resolution 1701 passed after the 2006 war on Lebanon that called on Hezbollah to move heavy weapons behind the Litani River.
The irony is Hezbollah doesn't have any heavy weapons between the Litani River and the Lebanese border. All its missiles, rockets and drones have been launched from behind the Litani.
Hezbollah fighters won't desert the Lebanese border towns and villages. This is their home, their land and it is why 250,000 Israeli settlers won't be returning to the north any time soon.
Resolution 1701 also calls on the Zionist regime to withdraw from Lebanese territory, which it has failed to do. The village of Ghajar, for instance, or the Shebaa farms, is still occupied by the regime.
In essence, Netanyahu is clinging at straws. He knows the Lebanese army, which will try to bring security for the regime again, is more of a police force than a national army and won't protect settlers from Hezbollah.
It has been a truly embarrassing defeat for the regime that committed genocide in Gaza, killing more than 44,000 Palestinians, 70 percent of them children and women.
The only party that has emerged victorious from this battle has been the resistance.
If the US-backed Zionist army had truly defeated the Islamic Resistance, as Netanyahu claimed, his army would have continued the war rather than declare a 60-day truce.
Even Netanyahu's war cabinet ministers admit this is a defeat. Posting on X, the terrorist minister Itamar Ben-Gvir described the agreement as a "historic mistake".
"This is not a ceasefire. It's a return to the concept of silence for silence, and we've already seen where it leads. This agreement does not meet the goal of the war - to return the residents of the north safely home." He complained.
The genocidal maniac added that an agreement with the Lebanese army “is an agreement on ice.”
The stark reality is that over the past two months, Zionist soldiers have entered Lebanon horizontally and left vertically, as the late Hezbollah leader and martyr Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah warned.
In the face of Hezbollah fighters, Israeli troops could not control ten meters in southern Lebanon in what will go down in history as the mother of all botched invasion attempts.
Even in the July 2006 war, the Zionist army managed to enter southern Lebanon and temporarily occupy Lebanese border towns like Khiam.
This time around, the screams of injured and exhausted Zionist troops could be heard by Hezbollah fighters, who not only welcomed but had been dreaming of the opportunity to fight elite Zionist infantry on their soil head-to-head.
In his last speech, Hezbollah's martyred leader, Sayyed Nasrallah, pledged that no military efforts would end Hezbollah's support front for the women and children in Gaza.
And it didn’t. The Zionists were forced to negotiate a ceasefire. A ceasefire in Lebanon will follow a ceasefire in Gaza. Both are inter-connected.
Hezbollah has once again come out of a battle with the child-murdering regime victorious. This victory is more significant than the victory in 2006.
With its leaders and military commanders martyred Hezbollah surprised the world once more.
Which military expert could have imagined that within ten days of hardship for the Lebanese resistance, it would replace all its leaders and commanders and take the battle to the heart of Tel Aviv.
If this truce falls apart, Hezbollah will cherish the chance to strike occupied Palestinian cities again. It has already killed and injured some 1,300 Zionist troops in less than two months on the Lebanese border.
Many more have been eliminated and disabled in bombing campaigns on Zionist military bases.
If Israeli military generals instruct their soldiers to enter southern Lebanon within the next 60 days, they will essentially be target practice for Hezbollah.
There was no path forward for Netanyahu other than to beg the US and France to come to the rescue with a ceasefire. He can't keep Israeli settlers safe when his own bedroom was destroyed by a Hezbollah drone not too long ago and when his commanders have their safe houses bombed.
The mayors of illegal Zionist settlements in the north have already made clear that settlers won't return for fear of the Lebanese resistance. They have joined Ben-Gvir and the chorus of other Zionist officials who acknowledge what a defeat this actually is.
But it is also a testament that among the so-called Arab and Islamic rulers, only a handful can make the Zionist regime and its colonial squatters stay awake at night.
Hezbollah is the chosen party of God and has fulfilled the promise to its faith and the pledge to keep the Lebanese people safe and to stand up for the oppressed people in Gaza with all its might.
Only one side is returning to their homes and only one side is celebrating -- that's southern Lebanon.
Wesam Bahrani is an Iraqi journalist and commentator whose work focuses on the Axis of Resistance.
Al Mayadeen – November 27, 2024
Day 418 of Israeli genocide in Gaza: 44,282 killed, 104,880 injured
The Government Media Office has strongly condemned the deliberate targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli occupation.
"Israel" continues its war of genocide against the Gaza Strip, now ongoing for the 418th day, with the Gaza Health Ministry announcing that in 24 hours, the Israeli military committed three massacres, killing 33 and injuring 134 others, with many victims still trapped under rubble or out of reach due to Israeli bombardment.
Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli occupation has killed 44,282 Palestinians and injured 104,880 others, the ministry confirmed Monday in its daily report.
Earlier, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that 35 were martyred in the Gaza Strip since the early morning hours as a result of the Israeli aggression.
Our correspondent confirmed that "Israel" killed three Palestinians following an Israeli airstrike near Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip.
Additionally, a Palestinian was injured in an attack targeting a group of people in Khirbet al-Adas, north of Rafah, in southern Gaza.
In a separate incident, 12 martyrs and multiple injuries were reported after an Israeli airstrike targeted Al-Tabi’in School in the al-Daraj neighborhood in central Gaza City.
'Israel' killed 190 journalists in Gaza
In a related context, the Government Media Office has announced that the number of journalists killed since the beginning of the genocidal war on Gaza has risen to 190, following the confirmed martyrdom of journalist Alaa Fawzi Barhoum, who served as an editor for multiple media organizations.
The Government Media Office strongly condemned the deliberate targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli occupation. It also held the occupation fully accountable for these egregious violations, describing them as a blatant attack on freedom of the press and human rights.
The Office has called on the international community, media-related organizations, and human rights bodies to take immediate action. It demands accountability for the occupation's ongoing crimes, urging prosecution in international courts and intensified pressure to halt the genocide and the systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists.
Repercussions of hunger in Gaza Strip reaching critical levels: UNRWA
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned on Wednesday of the repercussions of hunger in the Gaza Strip reaching critical levels, calling for an immediate ceasefire.
The UN agency said in a brief statement on X that “hunger in Gaza has reached critical levels, as people search for leftover food in the garbage that has been left for weeks."
"With the onset of winter, the situation is rapidly deteriorating and survival becomes impossible without urgent humanitarian aid. A ceasefire must be reached now,” it added
Al Jazeera – November 27, 2024
What’s next for Imran Khan’s PTI after Islamabad protest setback?
The frantic escape by party leaders during a security crackdown could hurt the PTI. But the government faces questions too, analysts say.
By Abid Hussain
Islamabad, Pakistan – When a convoy of thousands of supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party arrived in Islamabad on Monday night to rally behind their imprisoned leader, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, they were urged by Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, to stay until his release was secured.
However, within 24 hours, a late night raid by security forces on Tuesday dispersed the crowd, reportedly resulting in casualties among both PTI protesters and law enforcement personnel.
The operation, which began just before midnight, was conducted under a power blackout in central Islamabad, less than 3km (2 miles) from D-Chowk, the public square marking the boundary of the capital’s Red Zone, where many government buildings are located.
Bushra Bibi and Ali Amin Gandapur, the PTI chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, retreated to the northwestern province under the cover of darkness as the operation commenced and security forces used tear gas to disperse the crowd. By Wednesday morning, PTI issued a statement announcing it was calling off the protest “for the time being”.
The PTI convoys had moved from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into Islamabad, defying court orders banning their entry into the city, to pressure the government on three demands: reclaiming what the party calls its “stolen mandate” from the February elections, the release of political prisoners including Khan and the reversal of a constitutional amendment granting the government control over judicial appointments.
By the time the protesters left, it was the PTI’s leadership that was under pressure, analysts said. None of the party’s demands had been met, and there was little clarity on how the organisation would regroup.
“This protest was framed as their ‘final call’, but for it to collapse like this is a major blow to their political strategy,” political analyst Zaigham Khan told Al Jazeera.
The operation by police and paramilitary rangers has led to conflicting reports about fatalities.
The PTI said eight of its supporters were killed while the government denied using live ammunition and insisted no protesters died. Officials reported that three rangers were killed in a hit-and-run incident involving a PTI convoy on Monday while a police constable died in clashes with party supporters.
This was the PTI’s fourth protest in four months with previous rallies, including one in October, ending prematurely.
On Wednesday afternoon, Gandapur held a news conference in Mansehra city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, condemning the government’s crackdown on PTI workers and indicating that the party would continue to press its demands.
The PTI has been in protest mode since Imran Khan’s government was ousted through a parliamentary vote of no confidence in April 2022.
Although its candidates won the most seats in February’s elections, the party failed to form a government and claimed its mandate had been stolen.
Imran Khan has been in jail since August 2023 and faces numerous charges, including corruption and treason. Bushra Bibi was also imprisoned for nine months on corruption charges before securing bail in October.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi blamed Bushra Bibi for orchestrating the unrest in Islamabad. “The loss of life and economic damage over the past few days lies squarely on her shoulders,” Naqvi said on Tuesday.
PTI leader Sayed Zulfi Bukhari declined to comment on the party’s next steps, saying it was focused on dealing with casualties.
But Benazir Shah, a Lahore-based political analyst, said that at the moment, launching yet another large-scale protest for Imran Khan’s release seems out of the question for the PTI.
“Moving forward, PTI will need to recalibrate its strategy. One potential path would be to build alliances with other political parties as well as popular movements that share grievances against the state. A unified protest focused on social or human rights issues could help generate national momentum,” Shah told Al Jazeera.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spokesperson Rana Ihsaan Afzal rejected accusations of excessive force, accusing PTI supporters of carrying weapons.
“We have policemen with bullet wounds, which indicates the protesters were armed,” Afzal said. He added that the government had repeatedly offered alternative protest sites but the PTI violated Islamabad High Court orders by holding a rally in the city.
“This was not a peaceful protest. They wanted violence and used it as a tactic to gain sympathy,” he said.
But analysts said the PTI’s latest protest setback demonstrates, more than anything else its lack of leadership.
Analyst Talat Hussain said the party’s reliance on social media hype faltered when tested on the ground. “Last night, PTI learned there is more to politics than online narratives,” he told Al Jazeera.
Ahmed Ijaz, a political observer in Islamabad, questioned the abrupt departure of Bushra Bibi and Gandapur, arguing their actions would deepen divisions within the party.
“The way they abandoned supporters at D-Chowk will hurt the party’s ability to formulate its next steps,” he said.
Yet political observers said this week’s events have also cast a shadow on the government’s credibility.
“The government’s use of force was likely to set an example to deter future protests,” Shah said. “However, this heavy-handed approach risks backfiring in the coming days and exposes the current government’s failure to engage in dialogue or in de-escalating matters.”
Zaigham Khan, the Islamabad-based analyst, wasn’t surprised by the government’s response.
“This is the most unpopular government,” he said, pointing to allegations of rigging in the February elections that have plagued Sharif’s administration for the past nine months. “So any attempt seen as upsetting the apple cart, they could not afford it and went after them with such force.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/27/whats-next-for-imran-khans-pti-after-islamabad-protest-setback
