Factions mark second anniversary of Al-Aqsa Flood, reject disarmament

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
Today 12:21

On the second anniversary of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Palestinian Resistance factions reaffirmed that armed struggle remains the only path to confront the Zionist occupation, celebrating two years of steadfast defiance despite unparalleled destruction and "Israel's" failure to achieve its objectives.

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A boy holds an AK-47 rifle as he stands next to a Hamas fighter ahead of the militant group handing over four bodies to the Red Cross in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP)

On the second anniversary of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Palestinian Resistance factions issued a unified statement reaffirming that resistance in all its forms remains "the only viable path to confront the Zionist occupation."

The factions affirmed that "no party has the right to relinquish the weapons of the Palestinian people," declaring that such arms are "legitimate and guaranteed under all international laws and conventions."

The statement described the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, which began on October 7, 2023, as "one of the most brutal and bloodiest wars in history," labeling it a "genocidal war" waged against the Palestinian people amid "the betrayal and silence of the international community."

Over the course of two years, the occupation has dropped more than 200,000 tonnes of explosives on Gaza, destroying nearly 90% of the Strip's infrastructure and displacing over two million civilians, according to the Gaza Government Media Office. Despite this, the factions asserted, "Israel has failed to achieve its primary objectives, foremost among them eliminating the resistance and retrieving its captives by force."

"Despite the pain, wounds, and immense sacrifices, the steadfastness of our people in the Gaza Strip has formed a rock upon which all the enemy's conspiracies have been shattered." The factions described Operation Al-Aqsa Flood as "a historic milestone in the path of resistance" and "a natural response to ongoing schemes targeting the Palestinian cause."

Landmark achievements and the collapse of the Zionist narrative

The factions pointed to "Israel's" political and military failures as evidence of Palestinian resilience. Despite sustained bombardment, the Resistance has maintained its internal cohesion, continued functions under siege, and negotiated prisoner exchanges that secured the release of hundreds of Palestinians from Israeli prisons.

They also highlighted the occupation's inability to dismantle the Resistance's military structure or secure control over large portions of Gaza, despite continuous ground incursions and a declared objective to "eliminate Hamas."

"The events that unfolded at the United Nations during Netanyahu's recent speech," the factions said, "stand as clear evidence of the collapse of the Zionist narrative in the face of our people's steadfastness and the reality of the crimes committed by the occupation."

Weapons of the People Are Non-Negotiable

Reiterating their position, the factions stated: "The choice of resistance in all its forms will remain the only path to confront the usurping Zionist enemy." Palestinian arms, they note, "will be inherited generation after generation until the liberation of the land and the holy sites is achieved, and until our people gain freedom and their legitimate rights, regardless of the sacrifices."

The factions praised Gaza's fighters for preserving their weapons and unity "despite unprecedented destruction and isolation," affirming that "these arms symbolize the dignity and determination of a people that refuses to surrender."

Marking this anniversary, the factions called upon Arab and Islamic nations to "take the initiative" by filling the streets and squares of their capitals in solidarity with Palestine and its resistance, and in rejection of "the genocidal crimes committed by the Zionist killing machine."

They also urged governments and popular movements across the region to "intensify political and economic pressure to isolate the Zionist entity" and support international efforts demanding an end to the blockade on Gaza.

Tribute to martyrs and regional allies

The factions extended their greetings to all support fronts in Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran, commending their "steadfast and principled positions." They saluted the martyrs of the resistance, foremost among them Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Sayyed Hashem Safieddine, commanders Mohammad Bagheri, Hossein Salami, Gholam Ali Rashid, and Mohammad Saeed Izadi, as well as all those "who have fallen on the fronts of confrontation and support."

Finally, the factions paid tribute to the leaders and planners of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, naming among them "the great commanders Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya al-Sinwar, and Mohammad al-Deif," along with "the long list of national figures and commanders from across the resistance factions whose heroism and sacrifices will be immortalized in history, written in letters of light."