Al Mayadeen – October 18, 2024
Sinwar may be dead but Hamas lives on: Foreign Policy
Steven A. Cook writes in Foreign Policy that attempting to eradicate a resistance movement through violence often backfires; the committed do not retreat—they intensify their resolve.
According to Steven A. Cook, it has become a cliché to assert that "you cannot kill an idea." 
Cook writes in Foreign Policy that although Palestinian martyr Yahya Sinwar was the mastermind of Operation al-Aqsa Flood and "Israel" believes it achieved a great deal by murdering him,
He recounts the many various leaders of different resistance movements in Lebanon and Palestine and how their assassinations helped build the "mythology of Israel’s security services." Despite this, Cook asserts that "Israel" still has not managed to defeat armed resistance factions.
He details how Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah made Hezbollah one of the greatest resistance movements in the region after the death of Sayyed Abbas al-Mousawi in 1992 and how subsequently, following the martyrdom of Sayyed Nasrallah and significant leaders within Hezbollah, it has still launched an unprecedented barrage of rockets at "Israel".
Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, the early leader of Hamas, similar to Sayyed Nasrallah, was also martyred in an airstrike. Cook notes that if his violent death didn't lead his successors to rethink their approach. Why would Sinwar's killing have any different result?
Although some believe Sinwar's death could weaken Hamas, Cook emphasizes that resistance is a "critical component of identity," detailing how Sinwar preferred to meet his end from an Israeli tank shell rather than a natural cause, believing that his martyrdom would serve as motivation for further resistance.
"That Israel killed Sinwar seems like a major achievement today, but in time, others will rise—as they always have—to continue to resist," he concludes.
According to Daniel Byman, a professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, the killing of Yahya Sinwar, the recently elected head of Hamas' political bureau, may turn out to be less impactful than anticipated in the current war on Gaza.
While Sinwar's death only means one less leader in the Palestinian Resistance, Hamas is far from rescinded as "Israel" faces the more complex challenge ofﾠthe day after in Gaza.
Byman writes in Foreign Policy that despite Hamas suffering the loss of many of its leaders like Ismail Haniyeh and [allegedly] Mohammed Deif, the Resistance will still have new less-experienced members ready to take over.
Sinwar's death might increase the likelihood of a ceasefire, Byman argues, since he was more aggressive toward "Israel" and his strategy was to allow the occupation to continuously harm its worldwide reputation and its relationship with the US.
According to Byman, the savage Israeli assault on Gaza is a cautionary tale for future leaders in the resistance about the dangers of confronting a ruthless adversary, noting that Hamas may find it advantageous to regroup and rebuild, despite the occupation claiming it killed a third of its fighters as it killed 42,000 Palestinians.
On the other hand, new leaders may also choose to intensify their resistance efforts. Under Sinwar, Hamas significantly harmed "Israel," revitalized the Palestinian cause, and tarnished "Israel’s" global image.
Following the loss of numerous leaders, fighters, and countless Palestinian lives, there is also a strong desire for revenge among the Resistance and its members.
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/sinwar-may-be-dead-but-hamas-lives-on--foreign-policy
Al Mayadeen – October 18, 2024
Iran says Hamas chief Sinwar's martyrdom to inspire Resistance
Iranian officials praise martyred Palestinian Resistance leader Yahya Sinwar after he was killed in action against the Israeli occupation forces.
Iran has expressed that the assassination of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas, would serve as a source of inspiration for the ongoing struggle against oppression, hailing the martyred leader through numerous official channels.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian asserted Friday that the assassination of Resistance leaders would not weaken the Islamic nation's resolve against oppression and occupation. His statement follows Hamas' confirmation of Yahya Sinwar's martyrdom during a confrontation with Israeli occupation forces in southern Gaza.
In a message released on Friday, Pezeshkian emphasized that "the enemy should know that the martyrdom of commanders, heroes, and leaders will not weaken the resistance of the Islamic nation against bullying and occupation." He quoted Ismail Haniyeh, the former Hamas leader who was assassinated by the Israeli occupation, noting, "When a leader falls, another rises."
Pezeshkian praised Sinwar for his courage, stating he fought "heroically until his last breath, never giving up," referencing footage that depicted the leader confronting Israeli forces despite being injured. He underscored that the struggle for freedom and liberation is a noble cause that will persist despite the loss of its heroes.
Describing Sinwar's martyrdom as "painful and distressing" for freedom-seeking nations worldwide, especially for the people of Palestine, Pezeshkian viewed it as a stark reminder of the ongoing crimes perpetrated by the Israeli regime. He extended his condolences to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Palestinian people in Gaza, and all global advocates for freedom following Sinwar's death.
Hossein Salami
The chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Major General Hossein Salami, honored the memory of Sinwar, praising the martyred leader as an "untiring fighter and elite member of the Palestinian Islamic resistance," referring to him as "the legend of struggle against the criminal and ruthless Zionist regime."
He stated that Sinwar's martyrdom would "further stoke the flames of wrath of anti-Zionist resistance," adding that Sinwar's name would shine alongside those of other heroic leaders such as his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, and Hamas' founder, Ahmad Yassin.
Salami expressed confidence that the rising anger among Resistance fighters would ultimately lead to the downfall of what he called the "usurpers of the holy land" of Palestine. He commended Sinwar for transforming Hamas into a formidable organization that instilled fear in the hearts of the Zionist regime and its supporters.
The IRGC commander highlighted Sinwar's successful leadership during significant operations, including Operation al-Aqsa Flood. Salami noted that these operations shattered "Israel's" perceived security superiority and caused "catastrophic strategic confusion" within its society.
Salami affirmed that Sinwar ascended to martyrdom while leading Resistance fighters at the forefront of battle rather than from the underground tunnels that the Israeli regime had suggested were his hiding places. He predicted that the ranks of the Resistance would grow stronger following Sinwar's martyrdom, stating that the regional Axis of Resistance had now evolved into a "Great Resistance Front that opposes the oppressive presence of the United States in the region."
Salami asserted that the Palestinian Resistance, guided by Hamas fighters, would "continue to shape the battlefield against the wicked Zionist enemy," reminding them that escalating the conflict would only exacerbate their self-created crises.
Abbas Araghchi
In a statement posted on his X account, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that Sinwar did not fear death but sought martyrdom in his fight for Gaza. He praised Sinwar's bravery, stating that the Hamas leader fought "to the very end on the battlefield." The Israeli military confirmed the assassination shortly before Hamas issued its own statement on the matter.
Araghchi highlighted that Sinwar's legacy would inspire Resistance fighters across the region, saying, "His fate – beautifully pictured in his last image – is not a deterrent but a source of inspiration for the resistance fighters." He conveyed solidarity with Sinwar's struggle for the liberation of the Palestinian people, asserting that "martyrs live forever."
Iranian Foreign Ministry
In a subsequent statement, Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the assassination, describing it as part of a broader "genocidal plan against the Palestinian people. The ministry declared that the physical elimination of resistance figures would not diminish the movement but would instead affirm the righteousness of their cause and inspire others.
It characterized Sinwar as a "great hero" of Palestine's liberation and noted his significant contributions, including spending 22 years in Israeli prisons. The ministry stated that Sinwar represented a vital branch of the resistance against Israeli occupation and oppression, dedicating his life to restoring the rights of the Palestinian people.
Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf expressed his condolences, as well, stating, "Martyr Sinwar fulfilled his promise to God with his pure blood. The images of his struggle will inspire thousands of fighters like him and Sayyed Nasrallah around the world."
In his remarks, Ghalibaf reflected on the enduring nature of the resistance movement, noting, "When Ezzeddin al-Qassam was martyred, Sinwar had not yet been born. They may attempt to eliminate the people of resistance, but the idea of resistance will remain alive."
Al Mayadeen – October 18, 2024
Iraq mourns martyr Sinwar: Resistance will continue until liberation
Religious and political figures in Iraq mourned the martyrdom of leader Yahya Sinwar, praising his significant role in the Palestinian resistance and reaffirming the continuation of the battle until victory is achieved.
The head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, Sheikh Hammam Hamoudi, mourned the martyrdom of Yahya Sinwar, the head of the political bureau of Hamas, who was martyred during armed confrontations with the Israeli occupation forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.
In a statement, Sheikh Hammoudi described Sinwar as "a remarkable model of bravery, courage, and defiance against occupation, injustice, and bloodthirsty arrogance," emphasizing that the Resistance will continue to escalate.
Religious leader Sheikh Jawad al-Khalisi also mourned Sinwar, describing him as "a martyr who fell in the field of honor and dignity, fighting courageously, never retreating, carrying his weapon, and defending his cause, people, and land until the last moment."
He stressed that "the battle led by Sinwar and his fellow Resistance fighters continues and will not stop until victory is achieved."
Al-Nujaba movement
The Iraqi Nujaba Movement also issued a statement mourning and congratulating the martyr, stating that "a lengthy jihad [freedom fighting], culminating in martyrdom, is an honorable journey." The group emphasized that the path of opposition to imperialism and Resistance is a "blessed path, paved with precious blood," leading to liberation from the brutal and treacherous occupation.
They further noted that the occupation resorted to assassination tactics because it had lost the battlefield, revealing its "weakness and frailty" to the world.
The movement's statement referenced the words of the martyr leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who described the Zionist occupation as "weaker than a spider's web."
Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq
Secretary-General of Kataib Hezbollah Iraq, Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, also mourned the martyred leader in a statement, saying, "With his martyrdom, it is now the turn of the generations who were raised under his leadership to carry the banner. Based on our knowledge of the triumphant Hamas movement, the generation that continues the fight against the Zionists will be even more painful for them."
Al-Hamidawi affirmed his readiness to cooperate and continue the journey with the guardians of the banner formerly held by martyred leader Yahya Sinwar's flag, "to return all of Palestine to its rightful owners from the river to the sea."
In turn, the Secretary-General of the Badr Organization, Hadi Al-Amiri, also praised Sinwar, stating that the martyred leader Yahya Sinwar "was a man who embodied a nation, living and dying on the path to al-Quds."
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iraq-mourns-martyr-sinwar--resistance-will-continue-until-li
Al Mayadeen – October 18, 2024
Al-Houthi says Hamas to never drop banner of Resistance after Sinwar
Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik Badreddine al-Houthi underlines that the Israeli occupation forces will not succeed in forcing the Resistance to surrender.
The leader of Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, expressed his condolences to the family of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the Political Bureau of the movement, the al-Qassam Brigades, the Palestinian people, and the entire Islamic World following Sinwar's martyrdom.
In a statement on Friday evening, Sayyed al-Houthi said, "We received with deep sorrow the news of the martyrdom of our brother and fighter, Yahya Sinwar, who was martyred in the path of God, in the field of confrontation, heroism, and honor."
Sayyed al-Houthi emphasized that the sacrifices of the oppressed Palestinian people and their fighters would never be in vain.
He further asserted that "if the Israeli enemy believes that the martyrdom of leader Sinwar will lead to the collapse of the resistance front in Gaza or the demoralization of its fighters, they are delusional."
Sayyed al-Houthi also stressed that Hamas, a movement that has been steadfast and giving since its very inception, has not faltered despite the martyrdom of its founder and several of its prominent leaders. He assured that Hamas "will never abandon the banner of resistance, leave the battlefield, or surrender."
He criticized the Israeli occupation's portrayal of assassinating Resistance leaders as an achievement, calling it a "fantasy" and a disregard for the realities on the ground.
The Yemeni leader added that the US and the Israeli occupation are working toward common goals, driven by similar ideologies, with the US seeking to enable Israeli dominance over the region, whether directly or through political and economic control.
He also pointed out that the current events in the region are not coincidental but part of a long series of developments.
Yemen pays tribute to Sinwar
The Supreme Political Council of Yemen mourned on Friday the great martyr and prominent leader, Hamas Political Bureau chief Yahya Sinwar, "who was killed after a long journey of struggle and sacrifice."
In a statement offering its condolences, the council affirmed that the heroic martyr raised the banner of the struggle, standing steadfast at the forefront of the oppressed Palestinian people and the resistance movements.
The council emphasized that Sinwar formed a strong front against the "criminal Zionist aggression until his efforts culminated in martyrdom for the sake of God."
Sanaa extended congratulations to the Arab-Islamic nation, especially Hamas, for the significant sacrifice of leader Yahya Sinwar, stating that his blood would serve as "the fuel that will ignite the fire against the Zionists and increase the determination and resolve of the fighters in Palestine."
In conclusion, the Political Council reiterated Yemen's unwavering position of solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people, pledging to continue support "with all available resources and means until the aggression is halted and the siege is lifted."
Additionally, Mohammed Abdulsalam, spokesperson for the Ansar Allah movement, issued a statement congratulating Hamas and the Palestinian people on Sinwar receiving "the medal of martyrdom," fighting for the noblest and just cause.
"May God have mercy on Abu Ibrahim; he has written heroic epics in confronting the Israeli criminal entity. We are certain that Gaza and the Palestinian cause are destined for victory, no matter the sacrifices involved," he concluded.
Al Mayadeen – October 18, 2024
MEGALOPOLIS targeted in Arabian Sea for violating ban: Yemeni AF
The Yemeni Armed Forces have announced the targeting of the ship MEGALOPOLIS in the Arabian Sea with several drones, confirming the success of the operation.
On Friday evening, the spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announced that the Yemeni Air Force targeted the ship MEGALOPOLIS in the Arabian Sea using several drones, confirming that the objectives of the operation were achieved.
Saree explained that the targeting of the ship came after its owning company violated the decision to ban entry into the Israeli-operated ports of occupied Palestine. The ban came as a show of solidarity with, and in support of, the plight of the Palestinian and Lebanese people.
Saree also saluted the fighters in Gaza and Lebanon, stressing that the martyrdom of the great leader, head of the political bureau of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar, will only make the Resistance, and all the free people in the world, more determined to continue on the path of liberation and victory.
He further emphasized that, as the Yemeni Armed Forces enter their second year of support in the battle of "Promised Conquest and Holy Jihad," they remain committed to enforcing the naval blockade on the Israeli occupation, targeting all ships linked to, heading to, or dealing with the it.
Saree reaffirmed the continuation of targeting the Israeli occupation with missiles and drones and stressed that these operations will not cease until the aggression ends, the siege on Gaza is lifted, and the aggression on Lebanon stops.
Al Mayadeen – October 18, 2024
Israeli attack kills at least 50 in north Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp
The Government Media Office in the Gaza Strip released a statement revealing that the Israeli occupation's actions in Jabalia amount to extermination as the death toll is expected to reach 50 martyrs amid IOF bombardment of residential buildings and warnings to local hospitals.
The Israeli occupation forces continued its campaign of extermination and genocide in the Jabalia Camp, located in the northern Gaza Strip, resulting in a massacre that killed 33 people, including 21 women. According to the Government Media Office in the Gaza Strip, the death toll is expected to rise as many Palestinians remain trapped under the rubble of residential buildings that were bombed by the occupation forces.
The massacre has also left over 85 people injured, with several in critical condition amid an ongoing seige of the sector, systematic destruction of hospitals, and the murder of doctors and nurses since the start of the genocide on October 7.
The Government Media Office stated on Friday, in a press release, that it condemned the Israeli occupation's brutal actions.
"The Israeli occupation army continues its clear campaign of extermination and genocide in Jabalia Camp," the statement read, underscoring that the attack targeted several homes belonging to the Hawajri, Nassar, and Abu Al-Eish families.
Pointing fingers at several EU countries, the US, and "Israel" the statement added that this horrific act was carried out "with full backing from the US administration and certain European countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, who are involved in this genocide and ethnic cleansing."
The attack comes amid the ongoing collapse of the healthcare system in northern Gaza, an area that is home to around 400,000 residents. The occupation forces have issued threats against hospitals in the area, demanding their evacuation in a bid to maximize the death toll the Media Office reported stressing the systematic and deliberate destruction of the healthcare system.
Furthermore, the statement stressed that the Israeli occupation is preventing fuel from reaching hospitals and has severed communications and internet access in the region, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
The statement from the Government Media Office also condemned the international community's inaction, criticizing the "moral collapse of the world" for watching silently as genocide is committed against the Palestinian people.
"We strongly condemn the Israeli occupation’s new massacre and the continued campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing against civilians, children, and women," the statement emphasized, urging countries to speak out against the ongoing atrocities.
The responsibility for these crimes extends beyond "Israel", the statement argued, stating that "we hold the Israeli occupation, the US administration, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and all the countries involved in this genocide fully responsible for the continued crimes of genocide, particularly the ethnic cleansing and extermination in Jabalia Camp."
The statement concluded with a call to the international community and global organizations to act swiftly and decisively. "We call on the international community and all global organizations to pressure the occupation to stop the genocide in Jabalia Camp, to end the ethnic cleansing against our Palestinian people, and to put an end to the bloodshed in Gaza."
In turn, Al Mayadeen's correspondent affirmed, once again, that the Israeli occupation continues to systematically target schools and gatherings of displaced people in the northern Gaza Strip.
'Israel' halts all commercial food imports to Gaza: Reuters
Reuters reported earlier on Thursday that "Israel" has ceased processing requests from Gaza-based traders to import food, further choking off supplies to the besieged Palestinian Strip.
According to sources involved in the trade, this abrupt halt, which began on October 11, has driven food deliveries into Gaza to their lowest level since the start of the ongoing war.
For the past six months, this track had accounted for more than half of Gaza's provisions, with traders importing goods from the occupied territories and the West Bank.
Now, with no response from the Israeli body overseeing shipments, known as COGAT, the flow of goods has come to a near standstill.
Data analyzed by Reuters shows that the daily average of truck deliveries, which previously stood at 175 between May and September, has dropped to just 29 trucks, including both aid and commercial goods.
Yahya Sinwar may be dead, but there is no end in sight to this genocide
The news of Hamas leader’s killing after a year of evading capture will only engender ever greater resistance, which Israel will use to justify more slaughter.
Belén Fernández
On Thursday, October 17, Israel killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in the Gaza Strip – the latest “high-value target” in a genocidal war that has dispensed with more than 42,000 Palestinian lives in just over a year and that has now spread to Lebanon.
Of course, the elimination of Sinwar hardly spells the end of genocide, as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear in his post-assassination announcement: “Today we have settled the score. Today evil has been dealt a blow, but our task has still not been completed.”
Fortunately for the powers that be in a nation whose very existence is predicated on perpetual slaughter, the Israeli “task” will never be fully completed – at least as long as there are still Palestinians and fellow Arabs committed to resisting Israel’s bloodthirsty efforts.
And yet Sinwar’s killing will make it ever more difficult for Israel to continue to justify its current war on Gaza, not that justification ever really matters to Israel’s primary international backer, the United States of America.
Indeed, US complicity in genocide has long entailed assistance in locating Sinwar; back in August, the New York Times reported that the Joe Biden administration had “poured vast resources into trying to find” the Hamas leader, providing “ground-penetrating radar” to Israel while also tasking US spy agencies “with intercepting Mr Sinwar’s communications.”
Like the September Israeli assassination in Beirut of Hezbollah’s iconic secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, the killing of Sinwar is no doubt symbolic given the man’s track record of evading Israel’s deadly designs.
Over the past 12 months, Sinwar remained in the Gaza Strip and continued to lead military operations against Israel, exhibiting quite a bit more bravery than, say, a certain Israeli leader who prefers to jet around the world complaining about insufficient international support for mass killing.
Naturally, Sinwar has been roundly cast in the Western corporate media as a murderous demon bent on the destruction of Israel – since that’s the narrative that enables Israel to go about completing its, um, “task.”
Meanwhile, a glance at an excerpt from a 2018 interview with Sinwar reveals that the Hamas leader was rather more intent on building a Palestinian future than on destroying things: “I am not saying I won’t fight anymore… I am saying that I don’t want war anymore. I want the end of the [Israeli] siege [of Gaza]. You walk to the beach at sunset, and you see all these teenagers on the shore chatting and wondering what the world looks like across the sea. What life looks like. It’s breaking. And should break everybody. I want them free.”
Born in a refugee camp in Gaza and imprisoned by Israel for more than two decades for the crime of fighting for Palestinian land that was violently appropriated by Israel, Sinwar was acutely aware of the Israeli-imposed limits to Palestinian “freedom.”
Obviously, these limits are now particularly pronounced. Forget walking to the beach in Gaza at sunset to observe Palestinian teenagers wondering what life is like in places that are not under permanent Israeli siege and intermittent maniacal bombardment.
Nowadays, you’re perhaps more liable to observe Palestinian teenagers being burned alive during Israeli attacks on Gaza hospitals.
And while Israel may have dispensed physically with a key anti-Zionist resistance figure, it is consciously engendering ever greater resistance – without which, of course, the lucratively blood-soaked Israeli enterprise cannot ultimately flourish.
As per the aforementioned August report in the New York Times, US officials were convinced at the time that the killing or capture of Yahya Sinwar would provide Netanyahu with “a way to claim a significant military victory and potentially make him more willing to end military operations in Gaza.”
But as Netanyahu himself has now specified, Israel may have “settled the score” with Sinwar, “but our task has still not been completed.”
When Israel assassinated Sinwar’s predecessor Ismail Haniyeh in July, Reuters noted that Haniyeh had been “seen by many diplomats as a moderate compared with the more hardline members” of Hamas. As if we needed any more evidence of Israel’s total lack of interest in peace.
As for the United States’ interest in peace, following yesterday’s assassination of Sinwar Biden released an enthusiastic statement patting himself on the back for having “directed [US] Special Operations personnel and our intelligence professionals to work side-by-side with their Israeli counterparts to help locate and track Sinwar and other Hamas leaders hiding in Gaza.”
According to Biden, this was the equivalent of the 2011 assassination of Osama bin Laden – and “a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world.”
But a day that’s good for genocide isn’t really a good day at all.
