Hamas knows it hasn't achieved its aims - but still claims victory - Voice of Asia

In recent weeks, most Hamas officials I have contacted or spoken with have acknowledged that the main objectives the group set after the October 7th attack on Israel were not achieved. These objectives included halting Israeli expansion of settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem, establishing a Palestinian state, releasing all Palestinian prisoners, and lifting the siege on Gaza.

However, they maintain that Israel's failure to eliminate Hamas or remove it from the political scene constitutes a victory in itself. A senior Hamas official told me over the phone before the ceasefire was announced, "Israel promised to eliminate Hamas, but now they are sitting in the same building negotiating with Hamas leaders."

I posed to him that Gaza was in ruins, Israel had killed tens of thousands and eliminated much of Hamas's leadership – how could they see this as a victory? The official replied, "In numbers, Gaza has paid an unimaginable price. But in terms of gains and losses, Israel has failed to break the will of the Palestinians, the resistance, and failed to drive the people from this land." He described the group’s attack (designated as a terrorist organization by the UK and others) as “the biggest military and security blow” in Israel’s history, and “nothing can change that.”

In Gaza, the reactions are mixed. Tears and cheers are intertwined, reflecting both the relief that the death toll may soon stop rising, and the fear of an uncertain future for the 1.2 million people who have lost their homes, schools, universities, and hospitals. The debate about October 7th (when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage) has continued throughout the war and intensified after the ceasefire was announced.

Some defend Hamas, arguing that its survival alone is enough to call it a victory, while others criticize the group, believing that the unprecedented price paid by Palestinians constitutes a defeat. Mohammed Imad al-Din, a barber from Gaza City who was forced to flee to Khan Yunis with his wife and children, told the BBC, "If killing 46,000 people, displacement, and destruction is a victory, then I would like the Hamas leaders to explain what defeat means." He added, "I feel relief, but absolutely no joy because the future is uncertain."

Meanwhile, Dr. Saifyan Shami, a doctor at the Islamic University of Gaza, posted on Facebook that she was "surprised by any Palestinian, especially a Gazan, who does not recognize the victory of his country and mocks those who say we won." She wrote, "Yes, Gaza won, and Hamas won. Hey, before you speak, do you know the criteria for victory? You must reflect on yourself, your patriotism, and your loyalty to Gaza. Gaza won, despite the malice of the haters."

Currently, it is too early to judge whether the war will end after the first phase of the ceasefire agreement concludes. Most Gazans believe that the gunfire may soon subside, but the sounds of pain, regret, and trauma will continue for generations.