From Al-Aqsa Storm to Persistence: A Narrative of Two Years of Resistance in Gaza

TEHRAN (Defapress) - October 7, 2023, was the day when the Hamas movement changed the equations of the region forever by carrying out Operation “Al-Aqsa Storm.” This operation, which was launched by Palestinian Resistance Forces in response to decades of occupation, repression, and injustice, became one of the most important events of the 21st century in the fields of resistance, security, and international politics.

But now, two years after the start of the Gaza War, we see that the region is still involved in the direct and indirect consequences of this great and unique event; A war that not only plunged the Zionist regime into an unprecedented crisis, but also made the true face of the world order based on power and hypocrisy clearer and more visible than ever.

Accordingly, it is appropriate to take a complete and comprehensive look at Operation “Al-Aqsa Storm”. This operation, carried out by the Hamas movement, is considered one of the largest Palestinian military operations in modern history. Because Operation “Al-Aqsa Storm” included widespread rocket attacks, ground penetration into Zionist settlements, and taking prisoners, which resulted in heavy casualties for the Zionist regime.

Another important issue was the choice of the name of this operation, “Al-Aqsa Storm”. The name of this operation is taken from the “Al-Aqsa Mosque”, which is described as a response to the Zionist regime’s ongoing crimes against the Palestinians, including the desecration of holy sites, settlement construction, and the siege of Gaza. Accordingly, we see that this operation has had a profound impact on the region and the situation of the Zionist regime to this day, October 7, 2025.

On the other hand, Operation "Al-Aqsa Storm" was not only a military event, but also a turning point in the geopolitics of the region. Because, considering the events and developments of the last two years, this surprising and extensive operation of the Hamas movement against the Zionist regime has led to an escalation of tensions, changes in international relations, and the strengthening of the Axis of Resistance; in such a way that experts and scholars divide the history of the region into two periods before and after Operation "Al-Aqsa Storm".

But perhaps the most important effect of Operation "Al-Aqsa Storm" can be considered to be the strengthening of the spirit of resistance among Palestinian groups, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and even the West Bank factions. Because this operation showed that the Palestinian resistance is capable of striking deep into the Zionist regime, an issue that led to an increase in regional support for Palestine.

Of course, Operation Al-Aqsa Storm can be described as a "historic step" that united the Axis of Resistance (including Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Iraqi Resistance, and Ansarullah in Yemen) even more than before. For example, it should be said that counterattacks from Lebanon and Yemen against the Zionist regime have increased greatly and have led to widespread border conflicts. Accordingly, we must say that this unity has created new opportunities for Iran and has also increased the influence of Russia and China in the region.

Now, the most important and main impact of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm in the region was to stop the process of normalizing relations between the Zionist regime and Arab and Islamic countries. Before this operation, the process of normalizing relations between the Zionist regime and some Arab countries, such as the Emirates, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, was progressing. But "Al-Aqsa Storm" stopped this process and led to serious challenges to these agreements. For example, Saudi Arabia stopped the normalization talks and emphasized its support for Palestine.

Al-Aqsa Storm Operation also thwarted Western projects to change the map of the Middle East, including efforts to weaken Hezbollah and the Axis of Resistance. This event mobilized public opinion in Arab countries and the Islamic world against the Zionist regime and led to widespread protests in Arab and Islamic countries.

Globally, Operation Al-Aqsa Storm damaged the image of the Zionist regime in world public opinion and led to severe and widespread diplomatic isolation of Tel Aviv. Also, countries such as South Africa recalled their diplomats, and the United Nations described the regime’s actions as “collective punishment.” In addition, this event created opportunities for Eastern powers such as China and Russia to increase their influence in the Middle East.

Finally, Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was a transformative event that played a key role in changing the regional equations. This operation strengthened the Axis of Resistance, disrupted the normalization process, and plunged the Zionist regime into multiple crises. However, its human cost was heavy, resulting in the martyrdom of more than 65,000 people in Gaza. But it must be said that the future of the region depends on continued resistance and international pressure, as the operation showed that Palestine is still alive and resilient.