Hamas Official Says Operation Al-Aqsa Flood Changed Political and Military Landscape

A Hamas official in Lebanon said that Operation Al-Aqsa Flood marked a turning point in the conflict with Israel, describing the October 7, 2023, attack as a significant shift in the political and military dynamics of the region. Abdel Majid al-Awad, Hamas’ head of political and media relations in Lebanon, made the remarks on Saturday as the operation reached its 1,000th day.

According to al-Awad, the operation demonstrated the ability of Palestinian armed groups to seize the initiative and challenged what he described as Israel’s long-standing perception of military superiority and security. He said the events of October 7 altered previous political and military calculations and called for recognition of what he described as the resilience of the Palestinian people.

Al-Awad’s comments reflect the position of Hamas regarding the operation and its impact. Israel has described the October 7 attack as a terrorist assault in which Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people and took hundreds of hostages, triggering the ongoing war in Gaza. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties and humanitarian consequences on both sides.