In discussions with a senior official in the Fatah movement, parallels between Yahya Sinwar, leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat were drawn.
Notably, both harbored a fervent desire, driven by distinct motivations, to liberate Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, aiming to emulate the esteemed Muslim commander Salah al-Din Al-Ayoubi, renowned for freeing Jerusalem from Crusader control in the 12th century AD.
Both Arafat and Sinwar held profound reverence for the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem, willing to sacrifice their lives to secure them and be commemorated in Muslim history as liberators from Israeli control.
While Arafat has since died, under circumstances clouded in mystery and speculation of potential foul play, Sinwar’s fate remains uncertain, with his demise seemingly inevitable.
If Sinwar meets his end in the tunnels of Gaza, it will mirror Arafat’s protracted confinement in the Moukataa in Ramallah, which eventually led to his death. Investigations into Arafat’s demise suggested poisoning, with some attributing it to Palestinian factions with ties to Israel.
During the hunt for Sinwar in Gaza’s tunnels, the IDF uncovered documents implicating him in massacres in settlements surrounding Gaza and various terrorist attacks against Israel.
Similarly, investigations at the Moukataa in Ramallah in 2002 yielded evidence linking Arafat to terrorist activities against Israel.
Sinwar’s attempted terrorist onslaught, known as the “Al-Aqsa Flood,” in October 2023 aimed to coerce Israel into accepting an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders. This mirrors Arafat’s aspirations during the Second Intifada, which ultimately ended in failure, leading to Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank.
Both Sinwar and Arafat’s campaigns of terror not only failed in their objectives but also hindered prospects for a political resolution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The Second Intifada is remembered as a tragic failure in Palestinian history, prompting PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to renounce armed resistance in favor of peaceful means.
Similarly, Sinwar’s “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation is poised to become another bleak chapter in Palestinian history, exacerbating the plight of Gazans and evoking comparisons to the Nakba of 1948.
Sinwar and Arafat’s militant endeavors dragged Israel into bloody conflicts, exacting a heavy toll in lives lost.
However, Israel’s resilience, bolstered by national unity and a steadfast commitment to combat terrorism, ensured its victory in these struggles—a testament that must not be forgotten.
In conclusion, despite the absence of a foreseeable solution, both sides are bracing for future confrontations, underscoring the enduring complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
