Sana'a – SABA: Abdul Aziz Al-Hazzi
With 29 days having passed since the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Zionist entity in Gaza, the war criminal and Prime Minister of the occupation, Benjamin Netanyahu, has once again revived the slogan of "absolute victory." This comes despite the dire situation on the ground that has severely impacted his forces and Zionist militias, as well as the repercussions of the blessed Al-Aqsa Flood operation on the occupying entity and its existence.
Netanyahu faces a severe crisis amid escalating Israeli protests demanding the return of prisoners. He continues his usual tactics of procrastination regarding negotiations for the second phase of the exchange deal while employing deception to appease his far-right coalition partners and Zionist settlers, all to secure his grip on power.
The wave of protests calling for the return of Israeli captives held by Hamas is expanding daily. Analysts suggest this increases the likelihood of the Israeli side entering negotiations for the second phase of the prisoner exchange deal.
According to experts, the "absolute victory" he promised remains an impossibility despite Netanyahu's stalling tactics and progress made in the deal.
Voices within Israeli political, military, and intellectual circles are increasingly acknowledging the reality of defeat. Many call for the development of a strategy to overcome its repercussions. However, Netanyahu and his far-right allies, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, remain in denial, leading the Zionist entity into a prolonged war of attrition following its crushing defeat in the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7.
The withdrawal of Zionist forces from the "Netzarim corridor" in Gaza further solidifies the occupation’s failure to achieve its objectives in its genocidal war against the Palestinian people.
"The return of Palestinian refugees, the continued prisoner exchange, and the withdrawal from the Netzarim axis have exposed Netanyahu’s false claim of a complete victory in Gaza. The occupation has failed to control and divide the Strip in the face of the resilience of the resistance and the Palestinian people’s determination."
The statement also emphasized that the occupation’s goal of forcibly displacing the Palestinian people through 15 months of starvation, genocide, and systematic destruction could not be achieved—not by Netanyahu nor through any deal planned by Trump. Hamas reaffirmed that Gaza would remain free through the arms of its people and fighters and would remain off-limits to any occupier or foreign power.
During his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Netanyahu spoke of a "joint strategy" with former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the future of war-ravaged Gaza, following 15 months of brutal Zionist-American aggression.
The war criminal Netanyahu welcomed what he termed Trump’s "bold vision," which proposed gaining control over Gaza and relocating its population to Egypt and Jordan—both of which rejected the plan. Netanyahu pledged to work towards achieving this "sinister vision."
For his part, Rubio affirmed that Hamas "must be eliminated," aligning with Netanyahu’s original war objectives set on October 7, 2023.
Amid unwavering U.S. support, the Zionist entity deliberately violated the ceasefire agreement reached in Doha between Hamas and the occupation. The Israeli army announced an airstrike on "several armed individuals" in southern Gaza, while the Gaza Interior Ministry confirmed the martyrdom of three police officers and the serious injury of two others in an Israeli airstrike east of Rafah.
The talks between Rubio and Netanyahu occurred just one day after the Palestinian resistance released three Israeli captives, while the Zionist entity freed 369 Palestinian prisoners as part of the sixth phase of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on January 19.
Since the first phase of the truce, which is set to conclude on March 1, a total of 19 Israeli captives and 1,134 Palestinian prisoners have been released. Under the current phase, 33 Israeli captives are expected to be exchanged for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
The future of the ceasefire remains uncertain, as negotiations for the second phase—intended to secure the release of all living prisoners and end the war—have yet to begin. The third and final phase is designated for Gaza’s reconstruction, a massive project that the United Nations estimates will cost over $53 billion.
Sources familiar with the negotiations indicate that mediators hope to begin discussions on the second phase "next week in Doha." However, Netanyahu continues to block humanitarian provisions, such as the entry of mobile homes and heavy equipment into Gaza—conditions set by Hamas to proceed with further prisoner exchanges.
Israeli media reported that mediators are ramping up pressure to start negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. According to Israeli public broadcaster Kan, an Israeli source stated:
"To continue the exchange process during the current phase, Israel must engage in serious negotiations on the second phase."
Kan also noted that discussions on the second phase were supposed to conclude by the end of the next week, yet they have not begun.
With growing Israeli protests demanding the return of prisoners through a deal, and increasing calls to end the war, experts argue that Netanyahu’s promised "absolute victory" has not and will not be achieved. Instead, the outlines of a clear defeat are becoming more visible.
Since October 7, 2023, the Zionist entity has waged a horrific genocidal war against Gaza under full American support and with global indifference. This war has resulted in:
- 48,271 Palestinian martyrs, the majority of whom are women and children.
- 111,693 wounded, with an unknown number still buried under the rubble.
Rescue and civil defense teams remain unable to reach many victims due to continued Israeli attacks.
As the war crimes and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continue, Netanyahu’s so-called "absolute victory" narrative crumbles under the weight of undeniable defeat.
E.M
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