The Three Years of Al-Aqsa Flood That Transformed the World

Three years have passed since Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, launched on October 7, 2023, which paralysed the State of Israel at a time and in a manner it had never anticipated. From the very first days, in all our assessments, we have emphasised that this was not merely a local conflict confined to Gaza, and we have continued to point out that it was launched with an objective whose consequences would be felt on a global scale.

The war that began with Operation Al-Aqsa Flood is the symbolic front of a global struggle between those seeking to uphold the “cruel international system” established after the Second World War and those seeking to dismantle this order and establish a more just world order. It is a profound mistake to view Gaza merely as a narrow coastal strip measuring just 365 square kilometres. Beyond the Palestinian question, Al-Aqsa Flood has emerged as a global manifestation of Islam’s spirit of resistance and the cause of humanity.

Hamas’s (Al-Qassam Brigades’) Objectives

The objectives of this operation are multilayered. So, what are they?

Broadly speaking, they can be listed as follows:

• To shatter the myth that Israel is an “untouchable and invincible state.”
• To isolate Israel first, then weaken it strategically and pave the way for its fragmentation.
• To strain the global network of support behind Israel — the United States, Europe, certain Arab countries and other supporters — damage these relationships, and isolate this subversive, illegitimate state.
• To establish a unified, independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital.
• To destroy the global power of Zionism.
• To disprove the myth of the United States as an “unstoppable superpower.”
• To dismantle the modern international order that has prevailed since the Second World War and pave the way for a new, more just order.

These objectives aim not so much at a purely military victory as at a transformation in perception, politics and strategy.

To What Extent Have These Objectives Been Achieved?

In our view, these objectives have been achieved to a significant extent over the course of more than three years. The operation was planned and executed flawlessly in terms of the elements of location, timing and force. Through thousands of rockets, breaches of the border, the seizure of military bases and the taking of captives, Israel’s intelligence and security architecture was paralysed within a matter of hours; the perception of Israel as an “untouchable state” was shattered.

The Hamas resistance skilfully managed the battle of perceptions, turning the narrative in its favour. Despite the Zionist establishment’s control over the global media, it succeeded in keeping the Gaza Genocide and the ideal of establishing an independent Palestinian state at the top of the international agenda. This becomes clear when one compares the attention devoted to these issues with the space occupied in global affairs by the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war, taking place in the heart of Europe.

Before October 7, 136 countries within the United Nations (UN) recognised the State of Palestine. As of today, that number has risen to 157, including the Vatican. Many countries that have yet to recognise Palestine are preparing to do so. This increase is a clear indication of the Palestinian Cause’s global legitimacy and the righteousness of its position.

Those who focus solely on the destruction in Gaza are missing the broader changes taking place across the world. The real achievement lies in the long-term weakening of Israel and the system on which it relies. The Netanyahu government’s claim of “total victory” has not materialised. The “day after” plan has become more critical not for the Palestinians, but for Israel’s own survival. From this point forward, neither Israel, nor the Palestinians, nor the world can return to the pre-October 7 reality.

The Impact on Israel

Al-Aqsa Flood inflicted a severe psychological, military and strategic shock on Israel. The security barrier and intelligence superiority it had boasted about for years were breached within hours. The ensuing process dragged Israel, accustomed to sudden and short-lived wars, into a prolonged war of attrition, inflicting deep wounds on both its military and its society. Responsibility for the failures of October 7 has caused a profound rift and mutual distrust between the government, the military and intelligence agencies, with all sides continuing to blame one another.

Thousands of Israeli soldiers are experiencing severe psychological trauma. The Israeli military has been unable to achieve any success against the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, which fight under harsh conditions in tunnels, beyond aerial bombardment, and is struggling to find enough personnel to enlist. With its aircraft, helicopters and tanks worn down, and its air-defence systems running out of stockpiles, Israel is losing its capacity to sustain the war. Indeed, this is why it was unable to support the US attacks on Iran that began on February 28. Its economy has collapsed, and wealthy Israelis are emigrating rapidly, having lost hope in the country’s future.

Israel has failed to secure an absolute victory in Gaza; on the contrary, it has been driven into an existential impasse. Within the country, expectations have emerged of an inevitable civil war between the far right and secular segments of society.

Tel Aviv’s predicament demonstrates that the policy of “locust-like, piecemeal occupation” has become unsustainable.

The Impact on Zionism

Zionism is “losing its magic.” In the eyes of global public opinion, it faces the threat of ceasing to be seen as an ideology and instead being perceived as a “global criminal organisation.” Support for the genocide committed by Israel has exposed the hypocrisy of the West’s human-rights discourse, while the gains secured through Zionist propaganda, threats and blackmail have been shaken. The determination of the resistance has fundamentally undermined the foundations of Zionism’s legitimacy.

Jews in the diaspora have come under pressure in the countries where they live because of Israel’s crimes and have been forced to conceal their identities. The voices of Hasidic Jews who reject Israel have grown louder, and they have even begun to be recognised as representatives of the Jewish people at the White House.

The Attitudes of Countries Supporting Israel

Over the past year, the positions of countries that initially turned a blind eye to Israel’s genocide and supported it have evolved into a process of serious reassessment, with relations reversing in dozens of countries. Although US support continues, it has reached a point where it could break down at any moment. In opinion polls, the proportion of Americans who support Hamas has surpassed the proportion who support Israel.

Israel’s image as an “unstoppable power” has now disappeared, and its dominance over the narrative has weakened. Public pressure has intensified in European countries, widening the gap between official policies and public opinion. Although the channels of support have not been severed entirely, relations have become strained, and the process of “breaking away” has begun. The West has suffered a loss of credibility because of the inconsistencies in its human-rights discourse.

Israel is facing global isolation.

The Impact on the International Order

Al-Aqsa Flood has acted as a catalyst, accelerating the disintegration of the global order established after 1945. In the struggle between the defenders of this cruel system and those seeking to dismantle it, the resistance front has gained an advantage in terms of perception and strategy. The dominance of the US–Europe–Israel axis is being questioned, while the search for a new order is gaining momentum.

Those who view this war merely as a local conflict are mistaken. The real struggle revolves around the future of the global order.

The Impact on Muslim Unity

Al-Aqsa Flood has paved the way for the beginning of a struggle by Islamic countries — which have lived apart from one another, and at times in hostility, for a century — to reunite and secure their place in the new world order.

The successes of the Taliban, the Iraqi Mujahideen, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Hamas against hegemonic states are epic victories. These have not only weakened Zionism and global powers but have also emboldened other oppressed nations and strengthened a shared consciousness and spirit of solidarity across the Islamic world.

Normalisation processes between certain Arab countries and Israel have been disrupted, and plans that excluded Palestine have been thwarted. Meanwhile, initiatives such as the Mecca Defence Alliance offer hope from this perspective and illuminate the path ahead.

In short, the determination of the Hamas resistance has powerfully revived a shared spirit of resistance and the potential for renewed unity among Muslim public opinion.

As Al-Aqsa Flood enters its fourth year, we once again congratulate those who planned and carried out the operation, remember all the martyrs with mercy and gratitude, and pray wholeheartedly to Allah for the proclamation of final victory.

Alper Tan

October 7, 2026