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“Iran would only sell weapons to countries that it is sure “won’t misuse them” and will employ them strictly for defence purposes.”
(Iran’s defence minister Amir Hatami, in an interview with state television on 18th October 2020 regarding the lifting of the United Nations arms embargo)
 
The United Nations and Iran Urge Immediate Stop of Arms to Israel
Hamas
Although the United Nations defines Hamas as a political party, we can break this down.
Hamas, officially known as Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Islamic Resistance Movement), is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist political and military movement that governs parts of the occupied Gaza Strip. Unlike Hezbollah, which identifies as a Shia resistance movement, Hamas adheres to the Sunni branch of Islam. Hamas won the majority of parliamentary seats it was not elected to power. Hamas took control by a bloody and savage coup in 2007.
There have been signs that some Palestinian civilians are openly challenging Hamas’s authority. Angry crowds have thrown stones at Hamas police, and people in UN shelters have hurled insults at Hamas officials. While not all Palestinians are members of Hamas or support it, most agree with its basic ideology.
Hamas later established a military wing known as the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Its primary goal was to engage in armed resistance against Israel with the aim of liberating Palestine. In some cases, political parties have direct affiliations with armed groups. These parties fuse ballots and bullets, combining electoral participation with armed activities. Examples include Hezbollah in Lebanon and the IRA in Northern Ireland. Hamas and al-Qassam Brigades are no different.
A political group that once elected remains in power is often referred to as an “incumbent” party or government. When a party or leader wins an election and continues to hold office without being replaced by another party, they are considered incumbents. This situation can occur in various forms of government, including democracies and non-democratic systems. For instance, the Nazi Party under Adolf Hitler maintained power after winning the 1933 election in Germany.
Since 2007, the Gaza Strip has functioned as a de facto one-party state under Hamas rule. However, smaller parties are tolerated to varying degrees. These include: Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), a faction of Fatah that opposes President Abbas.
While Hamas maintains its dominant position, these smaller parties continue to exist, albeit with limited influence.
A one-party state, also known as a single-party state, one-party system, or single-party system, is a governance structure in which only a single political party controls the ruling system. All other parties are either outlawed or only enjoy limited and controlled participation in elections.
Sometimes, the term “de facto one-party state” describes a dominant-party system that, while allowing nominally democratic multiparty elections, effectively prevents the opposition from winning power due to existing practices or the balance of political power.
Historically, the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) ruling over the Ottoman Empire following the 1913 coup d’état is often considered the first one-party state. These states justify their existence through various methods.
Proponents argue that separate parties run counter to national unity. Some claim that the ruling party represents the most politically aware members and is the legitimate authority to govern. The Soviet government asserted that only a single party could lead a classless proletariat, thereby making the Communist Party of the Soviet Union the sole authorized political party.
Examples of one-party states include North Korea, China and Cuba.
United Nations
The United Nations does not call Hamas terrorists but a political party. The United Nations (UN) has a delicate stance regarding Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Martin Griffiths, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, stated that Hamas is not a terrorist organization. He made this statement during a TV interview, emphasizing that he has worked with various groups, including those labelled as terrorists. Griffiths clarified that Hamas is viewed as a political movement by the UN, not a terrorist group.
The UN body formerly known as the 1267 Committee, now called the ISIL (Dae’sh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, does not officially designate Hamas (or any other Iranian proxy) as a terrorist group. Consequently, no UN condemnation of Hamas’s brutal attacks explicitly labelled the group as a terrorist organization.
While the UN does not officially label Hamas as a terrorist group, several countries and entities do. Israel, the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have all designated Hamas as a terror organization. These designations are based on Hamas’s history of violence, suicide bombings, and rocket attacks against Israeli civilians.
Griffiths’ statement sparked outrage from Israel, which views Hamas as a terrorist entity. Israeli officials criticized the UN for what they perceive as bias against Israel. Despite Griffiths’ clarification, tensions persist regarding the UN’s handling of the Hamas issue.
On the 23rd February 2024 UN experts said, “any transfer of weapons or ammunition to Israel that would be used in Gaza is likely to violate international humanitarian law and must cease immediately.” The report continued with, “States must accordingly refrain from transferring any weapon or ammunition — or parts for them — if it is expected, given the facts or past patterns of behaviour, that they would be used to violate international law.” Lastly the UN experts said, “the need for an arms embargo on Israel is heightened by the International Court of Justice’s ruling on the 26th January 2024, that there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza and the continuing serious harm to civilians since then.”
Clearly the United Nations does not wish for Israels call for self-defence to be legitimate and there was no mention regarding the release of the hostages that were forcibly taken by Hamas, the Palestine Islamic jihad and other terrorist groups.
The United Nations has not called on Iran to halt its supply of weapons and ammunition to its proxies nor to stop other Iranian-backed terrorist groups from gaining military logistics from the largest state-sponsoring terrorist organisation in the world. Namely the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Attempts to Stop Supplying Weapons to the State of Israel
During the 11th and 12th January 2024 when South Africa accused the State of Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Iran supported such a move. The ruling failed to stop the war in the Gaza Strip. The judgement on the 26th January 2024 did state that Israel was to take measures to stop any form of genocide and avoid civilian casualties and the destruction of property. The court also stated that the Iran-backed Hamas terrorist group release all hostages, unconditionally.
As of the 26th February 2024 the Israeli government was submitting a report to show how Israel was complying with the court’s decision. The court had stated that Israel submits a report within one month of its ruling on improving measures on the Gaza humanitarian situation and to stop the ‘plausible’ arguments regarding the accusation of genocide. The required report was not for the public domain.   
Calls from the Islamic State of Iran and other countries to stop the supply of weapons to Israel came after the Hague ruling. The Tehran government sees the court’s decision whereby Israel has to take all measures to stop the deaths of civilians and the destruction of property as ‘to stop supplying weapons and ammunition’ in order for Israel to cease the destruction and death in the Gaza Strip. This would help with the survival of Hamas.
The court recognised Israel’s right to self-defence. Should nations stop supplying military logistics to Israel then that would affect its right to self-defence. Iran has, bent and twisted, the court ruling to suit its own agenda, that of the destruction of the State of Israel.
Iran uses the excuse to arm its proxies by pointing out that the United States supports and provides weapons to Israel and other allies in the region. While Iran accuses the Americans of funding Israel and its defensive capabilities by supplying weapons and ammunition it does so openly and fairly in public business transactions, accountability and by government approval. Iran, on the other hands does none of those things. The American Senate and the House of Representatives has to approve the budget for these matters before any action is taken. Both houses of Congress must approve the legislation before Biden can sign it into law.
The Tehran government openly admits that it supports its proxy or resistance groups, but any attempt to look for any open business transactions for weapons, ammunition, missiles or parts of, then you will be there for a long time as the theocratic government does not publish such documents. Recently, on the 16th January 2024, while Iran states that it supports peace in Yemen a boat was intercepted smuggling sophisticated missile components to the Houthi’s.
Iran has been a key patron of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2006. Here are the details regarding Iran’s funding to Hamas.
Annual Funding
According to a 2020 U.S. State Department report, Iran provides approximately $100 million annually to Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas. This does not include any funding for ordinary Palestinians. Hamas sees the welfare of the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip as a United Nations responsibility. However, as of 2023, an Israeli security source indicated that Iran had significantly increased its funding for Hamas to $350 million a year.
Relations between Iran and Hamas strengthened after the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) pursued peace efforts with Israel. During the 1990s, Iran committed to both military and financial backing, providing approximately $30 million per year. Additionally, thousands of Hamas members received military training at Revolutionary Guard bases in Iran and Lebanon. Following the Second Intifada, Iran’s support for Hamas continued to grow.
Iran and Hamas became dramatically closer after Hamas’ unexpected win in the 2006 Palestinian elections and its violent seizure of the Gaza Strip in 2007. In 2006, Iran committed to providing $250 million in assistance to the nearly insolvent Palestinian Authority in Gaza, now under Hamas control.
In the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) collaborated with Hamas to plan a surprise attack in southern Israel. The attack resulted in casualties and hostage-taking. Some 500 fighters from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad received training in Iran, under the guidance of the IRGC Quds Force.
United Nations Arms Embargo Against the Islamic Republic of Iran
A decade-long United Nations arms embargo on Iran, which prevented it from purchasing foreign weapons such as tanks and fighter jets, expired on the 18th October 2020 as planned under its nuclear deal with world powers. This occurred despite objections from the United States, which maintained that the ban should have remained in place. While Iran asserts that it has no plans for a “buying spree,” it can now theoretically purchase weapons to upgrade its military armaments dating back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution and sell its locally produced gear abroad. However, in practice, Iran’s economy remains crippled by broad-reaching U.S. sanctions, and other nations may hesitate to engage in arms deals with Tehran due to fear of American financial retaliation.
Iran is currently negotiating a deal with its ally Russia for the purchase of Sukhoi Su-35 air-defence fighter and is supplying drones to Russia.
The Trump administration had warned that any sales of weapons to Iran or exports from Iran will be penalized. Although the arms embargo has technically expired, the U.S. insists that it reimposed all UN sanctions on Iran, including the arms embargo, via a clause in the nuclear deal from which Trump withdrew in 2018. However, this claim has been ignored by the rest of the world.
Iran, on the other hand, views the end of the arms embargo as a “momentous day for the international community” and a win for multilateralism and peace and security in the region. The then U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, however, flatly rejected the expiration and emphasizes that the U.S. was prepared to use its domestic authorities to sanction any individual or entity materially contributing to the supply, sale, or transfer of conventional arms to or from Iran.
In an interview with Iranian government state run television on 18th October 2020, Iran’s defence minister Amir Hatami said Iran would only sell weapons to countries that it is sure “won’t misuse them” and will employ them strictly for defence purposes. Iranian weapons were found in Gaza by the IDF a report in the Jerusalem Post sated on the 18th February 2024.
The European Union  
The European Union (EU) holds a balanced position regarding Hamas. Official EU Statement (October 2023). The European Council has condemned Hamas in the strongest possible terms for its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel. The EU deeply deplores the loss of lives caused by these attacks. In a statement the EU emphasizes that there is no justification for terror. The EU strongly emphasizes Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with humanitarian and international law.
It also calls on Hamas to release all hostages without any precondition.
The EU remains committed to a lasting and sustainable peace based on the two-state solution through reinvigorated efforts in the Middle East Peace Process.
In 2014, the EU had designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. However, in 2019, the European Court of Justice annulled this designation, citing issues with the process and the need for specific evidence. The EU has since worked to reinstate the designation to protect its regime against further legal challenges.
While the EU acknowledges Hamas’s role in the region, it balances this with the need for peace and stability. The situation remains controversial, and the EU engages with various actors to prevent further escalation. The EU views Hamas as a group responsible for violence but navigates a delicate path to address the broader context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
On the 12th February 2024 EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged allies of Israel, primarily the United States, to stop sending weapons to Israel. However, there are some EU countries that have halted weapon exports to Israel. The countries are Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium. These countries have stopped for the time being should there be a situational judicial case to answer in the Israeli ‘plausible’ case of genocide.
On the 26th February 2024 Josep Borrell responded to questions about his assertion in January that Israel had “created” and “financed” the Hamas militia group, a claim made amid the country’s war against Hamas in Gaza. “I do not say that (Israel) financed it by sending a cheque, but it has enabled the development of Hamas” as a rival to leading Palestinian party Fatah. “It is an unquestionable reality that Israel has bet on dividing the Palestinians, creating a force to oppose Fatah,” he said.
Nothing was mentioned regarding Iranian support for Hamas and the Palestinian Jihad group and how they obtain their weapons.
We should understand how Hamas evolved.
The Muslim Brotherhood
The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna in Ismailia, Egypt, has undergone significant evolution over the years. Initially, the Brotherhood focused on religious and educational programs, providing essential social services. In the 1930s, its membership grew rapidly as it addressed social needs. However, it began to politicize its outlook, opposing Egypt’s ruling Wafd party during World War II.
In the late 1930s, the Brotherhood established an armed branch, which engaged in violent acts like bombings and assassinations. The group’s armed element sometimes operated independently of Hassan al-Banna’s control. In 1948, the Brotherhood assassinated Prime Minister Maḥmūd Fahmī al-Nuqrāshī. Hassan al-Banna himself was assassinated shortly afterward, possibly at the government’s behest.
With the 1952 revolutionary regime in Egypt, the Brotherhood went underground. An attempt to assassinate Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1954 led to its forcible suppression. Several leaders were executed for treason, and many members were imprisoned. Writer Sayyid Quṭb, imprisoned during this time, authored influential works that shaped modern Sunni militancy.
Over the years, the Brotherhood experienced ideological shifts. From an active participant in a nationalist movement. To a banned group operating underground, leaning toward armed struggle. And then back to a reformist-minded party.
After the 2011 uprising in Egypt, the Brotherhood briefly held power. Despite challenges, it continues to pursue its mission, navigating a complex path in the ever-changing political landscape. the Muslim Brotherhood’s evolution reflects a blend of social services, political activism, and ideological adaptations, shaped by historical events and internal dynamics.
The Evolution of Hamas
Israel did not create or finance Hamas contrary to claims by the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
Hamas, founded in 1987, emerged during the First Intifada against Israeli occupation. Its origins trace back to the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood movement, which had been active in the Gaza Strip since the 1950s. Here’s how Hamas evolved from its roots.
Ahmed Yassin, a Palestinian imam and activist, established Hamas in 1987. Before this, Yassin had been associated with the Mujama al-Islamiya, an Islamic charity affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.
The outbreak of the First Intifada provided the context for Hamas’s formation. It quickly gained a broad following among Palestinians. Unlike the traditional Muslim Brotherhood approach, Hamas embraced armed resistance. It became the first Muslim organization to use suicide bombers as a tactic against Israel.
Hamas leaders recognized that waiting for a Palestinian state was futile, given Israel’s superior military strength. In 1999, Hamas moved its leadership from Jordan to Syria. Between 2001 and 2008, Hamas underwent significant changes. It restructured its organization and strategic vision. It sought a strong base of support deeply rooted in society.
It became an independent organization, distinct from the formal leadership of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood. Its ties with the Jordanian regime and the Jordanian Brotherhood evolved. Hamas evolved from its Muslim Brotherhood roots, adapting its strategies and organizational structure to navigate the complex dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and regional politics.
What was the Muslim Brotherhood’s Stance on Israel?
Historically, the Brotherhood has advocated anti-Israel sentiments. It has supported violent resistance against Israel and terrorism. Some prominent Brotherhood members, like Dr. Muhammad Mursi, were involved in committees against Israel and Zionism. The Brotherhood’s rhetoric has included anti-Semitic claims, portraying Jews as innately evil and enemies of Islam.
While the Brotherhood itself is Sunni, it has embraced movements like Hamas, which is Sunni but closely aligned with the Brotherhood. Hamas considers itself the spearhead of the struggle against Israel.
Hezbollah, a Shia resistance movement, also shares anti-Israel sentiments. Although not directly affiliated with the Brotherhood, it has received support from Iran, which has influenced its stance on Israel.
The Brotherhood’s political platform, published in 2007, offered an alternative to the Mubarak regime in Egypt, including a different approach to Israel. Its position has evolved over time, influenced by regional dynamics and internal considerations. The Brotherhood’s stance on Israel has been marked by both anti-Israel rhetoric and pragmatic political choices. It’s essential to recognize that different leaders within the Brotherhood may hold varying views.
The understanding of Hamas evolved is important and proves Mr Josep Borrell statement regarding Israel forming Hamas as incorrect.
Fatah
The other organisation that Josep Borrell mentioned was Fatah. This is a brief round-up of the group.
Fatah, also known as the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, is a political and military organization of Arab Palestinians. It was founded in the late 1950s by Yasser Arafat and Khalīl al-Wazīr (also known as Abū Jihād). Fatah’s primary aim was to liberate Palestine from Israeli control through low-intensity guerrilla warfare.
Initially, Fatah focused on armed struggle against Israel. It obtained Syrian support and was based in Damascus. In 1964, Fatah carried out its first military operation by blowing up an Israeli water-pump installation.
By 1968, Fatah had emerged as a major Palestinian force, especially after its strong showing in the Karameh battle in Jordan. It became the largest and best-funded of all Palestinian organizations and took over effective control of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
In the late 1980s, Fatah began seeking a two-state solution through diplomatic avenues. Its leaders played prominent roles in the Oslo peace process, which led to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. Fatah’s journey reflects both militancy and a shift toward negotiation in pursuit of Palestinian rights.
What is the History of Iran's Involvement with Terrorist Groups?
Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has faced accusations from several countries regarding its involvement with terrorist groups. The Islamic Republic of Iran has been accused of training, financing, and providing weapons and safe havens for non-state militant actors. These include, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and other Palestinian groups such as Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
These groups are designated as terrorist organizations by various countries and international bodies like the EU, UN, and NATO. However, Iran considers them to be “national liberation movements” with a right to self-defence against Israeli military occupation.
Iranian Republic Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF)
Iran’s special operations unit, the Quds Force, plays a significant role. It provides arms, training, and financial support to militias and political movements across the Middle East, including; Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen.
How has Iranian Supplied Arms and Ammunition Effected the Security of the Middle East?
Iran’s involvement in supplying arms and ammunition has had significant implications for the security dynamics in the Middle East. Iran’s military-industrial complex has expanded rapidly since the mid-1990s. It reportedly exports weapons to fifty-seven countries, including conflict zones, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The actual export value is likely higher than reported and is expected to rise further as restrictions are relaxed.
Iran’s primary arms customers are believed to be in the Middle East, Africa, and South America. It offers cheap and reliable weapons, which may attract emerging markets. However, due to economic sanctions, Iran closely guards its export figures and customer identities.
Independent investigations have found Iranian weapons and ammunition in service with various nonstate entities. These include foreign-backed insurgents, rebel forces, Islamist armed groups, and warring civilian communities in countries like Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iraqi Shiite militias are also beneficiaries of Iranian arms.
Potential Threats to Regional Security
The upsurge in arms exports could affect Iran’s allies and proxies in the Middle East and beyond. If such equipment ends up in the wrong hands, it poses a threat to regional security. Terrorist and extremist groups in the Middle East, West Asia, and Africa could gain access to Iranian weapons.
What has the United Nations done to Deter Iran Exporting Arms and Ammunition to Others?
The United Nations (UN) has taken several measures to address Iran’s arms exports. UN Security Council Resolution 2231. On the 20th July 2015, the UN adopted Resolution 2231 specifically related to Iran. This resolution endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal.
In March 2007, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1747, which established an embargo on the export of all arms and related materials from Iran. This embargo effectively prohibited all states and groups from purchasing or receiving arms from Iran.
The UN arms embargo on Iran would have expired on the 18th October 2023 had it been left to run its natural course. Despite this expiration, the United States has been closely monitoring Iran’s actions. The international community stands ready to respond swiftly and severely if Iran engages in such arms transactions. In the past the UN has played a crucial role in regulating Iran’s arms exports, but recent developments have raised concerns about potential proliferation and its impact on regional security.
How does the United Nations Police Iran’s Arms Exports?
The United Nations (UN) has taken several measures to address Iran’s arms exports. Annex B of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (17th July 2015) endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal.
The UN monitors and reports on Iran’s compliance with the arms embargo. The Security Council receives regular updates on Iran’s arms-related activities. This information helps shape international responses and decisions.
Member states collaborate to prevent illicit arms transfers by sharing intelligence, track suspicious shipments, and enforce sanctions. Cooperation among nations is crucial in policing Iran’s arms exports.
The UN sanctions regime aims to deter Iran from exporting arms. Diplomatic efforts encourage Iran to comply with international norms. Sanctions may be imposed on entities violating the embargo. Policing arms exports is challenging due to covert channels and regional dynamics. Balancing security concerns with diplomatic engagement remains delicate.
The exporting of drones to Russia in its illegal war against the Ukraine along with other countries has proven to be extremely difficult to police.
How Effective has the United Nations (UN) Policing Iran’s Arms Exports Been?
The effectiveness of the United Nations (UN) in policing Iran’s arms exports has been a topic of concern and debate. Despite heavy sanctions, Iran has managed to build a burgeoning arms industry over the last decade.
It has become proficient in producing cost-effective ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Iran’s arms exports have raised concerns, especially to countries like Syria, Venezuela, and Russia, as well as various armed factions in the Middle East. These exports raise worries about human rights violations and the risk of civilian casualties in conflicts.
The expiration of UN arms embargoes allowed Iran to import and export conventional arms. The lifting of restrictions on components for ballistic missiles and UAVs further raised international concerns.
Iran has reportedly developed a global arms industry, with an estimated 200 to 240 production sites across Iran and other countries. It specializes in cost-effective ballistic missiles and UAVs.
The European Union (EU) and the United States have imposed separate restrictions on Iran’s arms trade to reduce proliferation. However, these restrictions are regional and do not carry the same weight as UN Security Council measures.
Iran’s arms exports pose a threat to regional security. There are claims that these weapons have been used in attacks on U.S. military bases in Iraq by Iran-backed militias. The lack of Iran’s participation in the Arms Trade Treaty exacerbates concerns about potential misuse of exported weapons. The UN has implemented embargoes and monitored Iran’s actions; challenges remain in effectively policing Iran’s arms exports. Regional and national restrictions play a role, but the situation remains intricate.
Who Supplies the Weapons to Hamas and the Palestine Islamic Jihad Terrorist Groups?
Both designated terrorist groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), receive support from various sources.
Iran established ties with Hamas and PIJ in the 1980s. Iran provides funding, weapons, and training to these militant groups. Iran transfers several types of artillery rockets, including Fajr 3, Fajr 5, and M302s (originally made in Syria) to Gaza. Tehran focuses on equipping its allies and proxies, including Palestinian factions, with the knowledge and equipment to produce rockets locally. The goal is to enhance their ability to operate Iranian-delivered rockets and build their own missiles.
Historically, Iran smuggled weapons via Sudan, where the IRGC Quds Force operated warehouses. Some rocket production for Palestinian factions may have been constructed there. These rockets were then smuggled via Egypt through tunnels from the Sinai Peninsula into Gaza. However, Egypt has sealed or destroyed many tunnels since 2013.
How are Weapons Smuggled into the Gaza Strip?
Weapons are smuggled into the Gaza Strip through various covert methods, despite strict border controls.
Smuggling Tunnels. Underground Network: The Gaza Strip smuggling tunnels are a network of tunnels dug beneath the Egypt–Gaza border, specifically along the Philadelphi Route. These tunnels were initially created to subvert the blockade imposed on Gaza and facilitate the smuggling of essential goods, including fuel, food, and weapons.
These tunnels serve as secret passages for transporting weapons, ammunition, and other contraband into Gaza. They connect the southern part of Gaza (in Palestinian territory) with the smaller part of Rafah located in Egypt (Rafah is situated on the border between the two countries). The first recorded discovery of such a tunnel by Israel was in 1983, after Israel had withdrawn from the Sinai. These tunnels often start from basements of houses in Rafah on one side of the border and end in houses on the other side.
After Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, control of the Rafah Border Crossing shifted. Israel declared that Palestinians would not have control of their side of the crossing, leading to restrictions on movement. Egypt intermittently opened and closed the Rafah crossing during this period. The Kerem Shalom crossing became the primary route for goods, supervised by Israelis and monitored by EU personnel.
In June 2007, Hamas took over the Gaza Strip. Following this, both Egypt and Israel largely sealed their border crossings with Gaza, citing the absence of Palestinian Authority security on the Palestinian side. Despite these measures, weapons continue to be smuggled into Gaza. Arms suppliers use tunnels as an alternative route to supply weapons, bypassing maritime control by the Israeli Navy.
In 2009, Egypt began constructing an underground barrier to block existing tunnels and make new ones harder to dig. However, some smuggling persists. In 2013–2014, Egypt’s military destroyed most of the 1,200 smuggling tunnels. The Gaza Strip’s smuggling tunnels remain a critical conduit for weapons and other contraband, despite efforts to curb their use.
How did Egypt Destroy the Tunnels into the Gaza Strip?
Egypt employed several methods to destroy the tunnels connecting the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula. In 2015, the Egyptian military initiated a strategy to flood the tunnels by transferring Mediterranean Sea water to the Rafah border area. Egypt also attempted to flood the tunnels with sewage. A newly-built crude canal was filled with seawater, which flowed into the tunnels, rendering them unusable. These tunnels, often 20 meters deep and stretching up to 300 meters inside Egyptian Rafah side, were severely impacted by this flooding. The Egyptian government aimed not only to disrupt the tunnels but also to economically weaken Hamas.
Egyptian military bulldozers destroyed many homes on the Egyptian side of Rafah to create a buffer zone. This zone extended between 500 and 1,000 meters on the Egyptian side and 1,000 meters on the Gaza side. Entire neighbourhoods were flattened to prevent tunnel construction and secure the border.
The flooding approach caused concern for the local environment and the livelihoods of communities living around the border. It led to ground subsidence, damaging already-meagre homes and livelihoods. Egypt’s efforts aimed to curb the “tunnel economy” that had flourished in Gaza, but it also affected civilians and their homes.
Israel also attempted to combat Gaza’s tunnels by digging a canal and pumping seawater into the 14 km borderline with Egypt. However, due to environmental damage and risks to natural aquifer water systems, Israel eventually built a separation wall instead. Despite these efforts, desperate Gazans continued to build tunnels to escape Israel’s economic restrictions.
Has the Destruction of Tunnels from Egypt to the Gaza Strip Worked?
The destruction of tunnels from Egypt to the Gaza Strip has had mixed results. While some tunnels have been rendered unusable due to flooding and buffer zones, others continue to operate. The flooding strategy and buffer zones have disrupted several tunnels, making them impassable. The destruction of tunnels has weakened the “tunnel economy” that relied on smuggling goods and weapons. Hamas impose a tunnel tax to assist with revenues. Egypt’s efforts contribute to border security and prevent illegal activities.
Despite these measures, some tunnels remain operational. Desperate Gazans continue to build new ones. The flooding approach caused environmental damage and affected local communities. Bulldozing homes and creating buffer zones displaced civilians and impacted their livelihoods.
Does Iran use the United Nations for its own Revolutionary Cause?
Iran, with its revolutionary ideology and geopolitical interests, has strategically engaged with the United Nations (UN) to further its goals. Iran actively participates in UN forums, including the General Assembly and various specialized agencies. It uses these platforms to advocate for its revolutionary principles, challenge Western dominance, and promote its vision of a multipolar world.
Iran cites international law and UN resolutions to support its positions. For instance, it refers to Resolution 2231 (related to the Iran nuclear deal) to argue against sanctions and arms embargoes.
Iran engages in soft power diplomacy by highlighting its commitment to human rights and social justice. It uses UN mechanisms to criticize Western countries and project itself as a champion of justice.
Iran builds alliances with like-minded countries within the UN. It collaborates with nations that share its anti-Western sentiments, especially in the context of anti-imperialism and anti-Zionism.
Iran often challenges Western narratives and policies within UN debates. It criticizes the United States and its allies, particularly regarding issues like Palestine, Syria, and Yemen.
Iran strategically uses the UN to advance its revolutionary cause, shape global narratives, and challenge Western dominance. Its engagement is multifaceted, combining diplomacy, legal arguments, and propaganda.
Some examples of the Iranian use of the United Nations
During a session at the United Nations on the 6th February 2024 Iran’s envoy to the United Nations said that regional groups act independently. The Iranian government run news outlet Fars News Agency reported: Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Nations Amir Saeed Iravani once again stressed that the resistance groups in West Asia are not directed by Tehran and do not take orders from Tehran, adding that they have legitimate rights to end the illegal US presence in Iraq and Syria, stop the killings in Gaza and end Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
Addressing a United Nations Security Council meeting on the threat to international peace, the ambassador touched on anti-Israeli and anti-US operations by various resistance groups across the Western Asia region.
“All of the resistance groups in the region are independent and their decisions and actions are motivated by their legitimate rights under international law, which include ending the illegal presence of the US in their territories, stopping the genocide in Gaza, and ending the occupation of the Palestinian territories,” he said.
“Therefore, any attempt to attribute these actions to Iran or its Armed Forces is misleading, baseless, and unacceptable,” Iravani added.
“It is evident to everyone that the root causes of the crises in the region are occupation, aggression, and the continued genocide and horrific atrocities [that are being] committed by the Israeli regime and fully supported by the US against innocent Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,” the envoy stressed.
For all the trouble that Iran causes in the Middle East on the 11th February 2024 the Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi called for the expulsion of Israel from the United Nations following the Zionist regime’s military onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip. They failed to mention who was the chess master behind the attack nor the Israeli hostages held by their proxy groups.
On the 24th February 2024 Iran declared that it would be the voice of Palestine at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
On the 26th February 2024 Islamic Republic of Iran Foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian attended the 55th session of the Human Rights Council. Iran foreign minister in his speech said: The Islamic Republic of Iran remains steadfast in adhering to and respecting human rights and dignity based on its national cultural values and the Islamic teaching.
Using the world platform, he went on to say, “Unfortunately, the realization of the lofty goals of human rights is faced with some trying challenges, the most urgent of which is the systematic and widespread “human slaughtering" by the world's only apartheid regime i.e. the occupying war-mongering regime of Israel.”
The world is witnessing the maximum support for the Israeli atrocities by the United States of America and some of its allies that make them complicit to the ongoing crime of genocide. The Human Rights Council must hold the Zionist regime and its supporters accountable for the atrocity crimes committed in the occupied Palestine.
Islamophobia, which is mainly a result of racist and supremacist discourses in some political circles in the West, still persists in many ways. The consequence of such extremism is the rise in discrimination and religion-based violence in different parts of the world against Muslim individuals and communities and their sanctities. This is all the while that Islam is a religion of mercy and humanity, and this challenge needs to receive continuous attention in the Human Rights Council. The national, cultural and religious values and beliefs of nations should be respected and the imposition of a single prescriptions for all nations should be avoided.
Within these examples its easy to see how the Islamic Republic uses any and all platforms to drive home their hate against those who oppose them. Regarding human rights and according to the Global Economy human rights ranking website from 2007 – 2022 the Islamic Republic of Iran had the second worst human rights record in the world. Israel was rated at number 141. The Iranian backed Houthi’s in Yemen being the worst with Norway being the best.
The Biden Administration
Once Joe Biden, the New American President came to office on the 20th January 2021 doubts crept in regarding America’s response to its allies in the Middle East. The administration wanted to renegotiate the nuclear agreement (JCPOA) with Iran which his predecessor Republican Donald Trump had withdrawn from in 2018. The Democrats had used the renegotiation as an election promise. Once in the White House Biden toned down his stance and rhetoric against Iran in the hope that all parties would return to the negotiation table and he could bring about his electoral promise. But Tehran is one of these governments that will take and offer nothing in return.
American allies in the Middle East saw this as allowing Iran to basically do what it wanted in West Asia and relax the policing of sanctions against them. The allies believed that this action would bring about an even worse unsettling peace in the region than by not keeping Iran in check.
The Biden administration stated that they would always help their allies in times of need. The allies were not convinced and even swayed towards Russia as a possible replacement.
The Biden administration has since proven that they stand by their word on supporting their allies in times of need. The Arab nations of the Middle East did not envisage the Hamas attack on the State of Israel on the 7th October 2023. But, true to their word, the United States is supporting their ally, Israel. Those Arab nations who wanted the reassurance of the Americans did not expect the 7th October nor the response from the Biden administration nor that it would be the State of Israel that would be the first in need of American assistance.
Nations must understand that there are Israeli’s and Arabs living in the same region. If they all want peace then any interfering body must be kept out. That includes any and all proxies and the support of those entities.
Conclusion
It appears that the request by the United Nations is somewhat one-sided as are some views in the European Union. The major disruptive actor in the region of West Asia who supports, trains, funds and supplies are the one at fault by continually stoking the embers of a fire in which the flames do the damage. It’s all very well demanding that countries stop selling military equipment to Israel but if that happened it would make the Iranian revolutionary goal of destroying Israel that much easier. By stating that one side of the conflict be denied weapons and military logistics but allowing the other to receive weapons and ammunition is both idiotic and biased. The only way to stop more conflicts similar to the Israel/Gaza situation is to be more pro-active in dealing with those responsible for the upset in the Middle East. Like a chess master, Iran uses its pawns to fight its battles but keeping its main pieces in reserve. Hamas have been proven to be a terrorist group but the United Nations refuses to see that and then blame another state for the current chaotic and catastrophic events. The United Nations is aware that Iran uses them for a double-edged reason but it appears that no one confronts Iran for their propaganda use on a world platform, thus allowing them to spread more lies. The United Nations seems to blame Israel but in reality, if the UN was to take a more aggressive stand with Iran, then this and other events in the Middle East may not happen. It is time that the UN, the EU and those who live in the Middle East come together and outlaw the Tehran government if it wants a settled peace negotiation. Hamas have been proven to be a terrorist group but the United Nations refuses to see that and then blames another state for the chaotic and catastrophic events. Perhaps once the conflict in Gaza has ended, countries, nations and world bodies will see that they cannot keep turning their back on the main cause of problems in the Middle East but make moves to end them once and for all. It will be time to stand up to the plate and ensure that a conflict such as the one in Gaza never happen again.
 
Paul Ashley

 
“The further backward you can look, the further forward you are likely to see.”
(Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill)
 
Israel and Hamas Conflict: Time is Running Out for Hamas?
Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad Preparations and After the 7th October 2024
No doubt when Hamas and the Islamic Republic of Iran started to plan for the day that Hamas would invade Israel, they would have studied every conceivable concept and scenario, Israeli reactions and the tactics they employed in order to pre-empt the Israeli response. The leaders would have studied many of the conflicts that Israel had been involved in and how they would have reacted. Conducting TEWT’s (Tactical Exercise Without Troops) paper exercises on desk-tops and discussions without having soldiers on the ground. As it turned out Hamas also had mock sites built for its fighters to rehearse the attack. They would have studied the Six-Day war in June 1967, the War of Attrition 1967 – 1970, the Yom Kippur War October 1973. Other conflicts in which Israel had been involved which would have been carefully looked at would have been those closer to home such as fighting against the Palestinians themselves. The First Intifada 1987 – 1993 the first full scale Palestinian uprising against Israel in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Gaza War of December 2008 – January 2009; the 2012 Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip or Operation Pillar of Defence (November 2012) – Military offensive on the Gaza Strip, 2014 Gaza War or Operation Protective Edge (July–August 2014) – Military offensive on the Gaza Strip as a response to the collapse of American-sponsored peace talks amongst other clashes. Although Hamas studied other conflicts and believed itself to be well prepared it did not choose the course of action well. Hamas chose the battle field, the Gaza Strip. With its miles of numerous tunnels to be used in a guerrilla style war where they could ‘pop up’ inside Palestinian civilian areas anywhere and inflict damage on the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) then safely disappear. Hamas chose to use the population of the Gaza Strip as human shields; the guiltless, the females and the children, knowing that an Israeli response would see the death of many innocents as Israel fought against Hamas and others in the tiny enclave of the Gaza Strip. Hamas chose fire positions in Mosques, schools, hospitals and the ordinary homes of Palestinians to fight against the IDF. Hamas was relying on world opinion and the mass casualties to stop the war and reduce Hamas’s capabilities in the Gaza Strip. Israel would be forced to withdrawal and Hamas would remain intact and remain in power. The taking of Israeli hostages would see the release of hundreds if not more Hamas, PIJ and others personnel released from Israel jails. A ceasefire would be inevitable and the prisoner swap would happen. Giving Hamas and others total victory over Israel along assisted by Iranian propaganda. Then, when Hamas and the PIJ thought they would be able to read and react to the Israeli response to an invasion, a date would have been proposed and Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and possibly smaller Palestinian terrorist groups would put into operation the plan to invade Israel. That date would have been the 7th October 2023 and Operation Al-Aqsa Flood would commence. The date is as infamous as the unprovoked attacks by the Japanese on Pearl Harbour on the 7th December 1941 and the unprovoked attack by Al-Qaeda against the United States World Trade Centre, New York, and the Pentagon on the 11th September 2001.
Israel Response
Between the 7th October and the 27th October 2023 Israeli commanders and politicians would have studied at how they had reacted and operated in the past. Then changed their Standard Operating procedure (SOP) and decide to conduct an operation against the terrorist group differently, catching Hamas and others off guard. This would have been the beginning of the end for Hamas. Hamas were confident in the knowledge of what they undertaken, that confidence must have shrunk when the IDF started their ground offensive in the Gaza Strip but not to the plan they had envisaged. From that point on Israel started one of the objectives that it stated after the brutal and barbaric murder of its citizens on the 7th October 2023. The dismantling and elimination of the terrorist group known as Hamas.
Marches and Rallies
The war sparked a huge response by people around the globe demonstrating focusing on different aspects relating to the conflict. Demands for a ceasefire, an end to the blockade, returning Israeli hostages, protesting against Israeli war crimes, and providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. Protests against Israeli action in Gaza were notably large across the Middle East and North Africa with support from Europe and the Far East.
The war continued.
The Temporary Ceasefire
Qatar mediated a temporary ceasefire between the warring factions which came into effect on the 24th November 2023. An agreement was reached that was brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. after weeks of indirect negotiations. The deal provided for a four-day pause in fighting, a halt to air traffic over northern Gaza during certain hours of the day and over southern Gaza entirely. The release of 50 Israeli hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of more humanitarian aid into Gaza. The truce ended an hour before it was scheduled to have done on the 30th November 2023 when the Israeli ‘Iron Dome’ missile defence system detected an incoming missile that had been launched from the Gaza Strip. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, "Hamas is the reason that the pause ended, because they refused to put on the list additional women and children that we know that they are holding and they're refusing to let go."
The war continued.
The Slow Decline of Hamas
The US, along with mediators Egypt and Qatar, had continued to push for a hostage release agreement that would be accompanied by a truce, with a Hamas delegation arriving in Cairo 8th February 2024 for negotiations. On the 9th February 2024 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the that peace proposal on the grounds that Hamas wanted bizarre demands. The peace proposal was rejected by Israel from Hamas, saying its demands were “delusional.” The terrorist group had proposed a truce plan that would see a four-and-a-half-month ceasefire during which hostages would be freed in three stages and which would lead to an end to the war. The Hamas proposal set out that Israeli troops would withdraw from the Gaza Strip leaving Hamas still intact and continue to rule in Gaza. They also wanted the release of 1,500 prisoners from Israeli jails, a third of whom were serving life sentences. It made other various demands of Israel. The Israeli Prime Minister stated that nothing short of total victory over the dismantling of Hamas and the return of the hostages would count. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said “Netanyahu’s comments are a form of political bravado, indicating his intention to pursue the conflict in the region.” Meaning Hamas had not got its own way. Prior to the Hamas offer Israel had offered Hamas a two month ‘pause’ in the conflict for the release of all hostages. But Qatar based Hamas leaders were aiming for a permanent ceasefire that would have left the organisation intact. In order to apply more pressure against the Israeli government by families of the hostages, Hamas’s armed wing spokesman Abu Obeida said in an audio message, “Losses amongst (Israeli hostages) have become many while other hostages live in extremely difficult conditions.” The spokesman went on, “We warned dozens of times about the dangers to which their hostages are being exposed. We didn’t want the situation to reach this stage, but (Israel’s) leadership ignored us.” he added, “For months, we tried to protect and care for the lives of these hostages, as it is our top humanitarian goal to liberate our own prisoners and to realize the legitimate rights of our people.” On the 18th February 2024 the Arab News wrote that the talks on a potential ceasefire deal in Gaza “have not been progressing as expected.”
The war continued.
The Demise of Hamas
Hamas are losing. They are now fighting to keep what little power they have. Their proposition of the later state’s ceasefire proves that they are on the ropes. By requesting the release of terrorist’s held in Israeli prisons, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip is a sign of desperation. They need a permanent ceasefire to survive, and quickly. Israel is holding its ground knowing that it’s now a determination battle to see who gives in first. Israel will never surrender what they have achieved. They are dismantling Hamas piece by piece and those other terrorist groups that stand with them, Hamas knows this and is now trying to salvage what it can. This is where the hostages come into play. Hamas knows that Netanyahu is under immense pressure on the home front by families whose loved ones are still in captivity and Hamas is using this home front pressure to create what little advantage they have. The Israeli government is more than aware of this. Unless the hostages, dead or alive, are returned then the Hamas terrorists are under pressure to give in to the Israelis by surrendering all the hostages and yielding. By attempting to ‘negotiate’ under their terms for a return of those illegally held, they hope to keep some sort of hold in the Gaza Strip. This will not happen as Israel has vowed to destroy the Hamas terrorist network. Remember Hamas has promised that it will do the same in the future. Israel has promised that this cannot and will not occur. Those who want the peace between the two cannot guarantee that it will never happen again. Should Israel withdrawal under the Hamas demands it would mean that Hamas would have the capability to return and conduct the same operation as they did on the 7th October 2023. With Israel disagreeing to Hamas’s peace proposal and accusing Israel of committing genocide proves that they are losing the battle, contrary to what the Iranian government claims. Iran is still stating that Israel is committing genocide, wrongfully, as stated in the IJC Hague trial on the 26th January 2024 where it was stated that there is only a ‘plausible’ possibility that Israel was committing the act of genocide. It’s a political style of blackmail. Currently the Israeli Army is preparing to send in the ground army to fight the remaining four Hamas battalions held up in the southern Palestinian city of Rafah. With 60 to 70% of Hamas’s fighting force decimated the remainder will have to be destroyed. Yahya Sinwar the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip is now fighting for his life, his reputation and survival.
Human Shields
The Times of Israel reported on the 8th January 2024 that the Hamas military leader Yahya Sinwar the leader of the Gaza Strip and the brain behind the savage and brutal attack on Israel on the 7th October 2023 had gone a step further. He is thought to be in hiding and surrounded by Israeli hostages in Rafah. The captives are been held in order to protect him by using them as human shields. An Israeli news outlet reported that Sinwar spoke to hostages shortly after they were illegally abducted. Sinwar told the group, “Hello, I am Yahya Sinwar. You are the most protected here. Nothing will happen to you.” A hostage who was present recounted the incident to a family and also briefed security officials, who confirmed the story. There are beliefs that approximately 132 hostages out of the 240 taken are still being held by Hamas and other terrorist groups. Not all are thought to be alive but Israel has always defined those who have been kidnapped and are either dead or alive in captivity as a hostage until they are returned back to Israel. It is thought of the 136 that Hamas is holding 29 are dead. Hamas are threatening the future of the hostages by stating if the Israel forces advance into Rafah, it would “blow up” the Qatari and Egyptian-mediated talks. On the 11th February 2024 Hamas’ armed-wing, the Al Qassam Brigades, said, “Israeli strikes on the Gaza strip over the past 96 hours have killed two Israeli hostages and seriously injured eight others.”
Israeli Special Forces rescued two hostages from captivity in Rafah Gaza in the early hours of 11th February 2024. This is a typical ‘carrot and stick’ ploy. Leave the Gaza Strip and save the hostages or fight on and they die.
Destroying the Hamas Leadership
One method of ensuring an organisation cannot function is to remove the central leaders, the decision makers and the main organisers, it’s called ‘decapitating of the leadership’. Sometimes the method of decapitation and decapitating a group’s hierarchal leadership can work effectively at best but on the other hand it may be counterproductive. But by removing those who believe that they are untouchable leads others to doubt their own safety and moral which effects its followers leading to a demoralised group. The Israeli government is a follower of the policy decapitation, to remove those in power of a terrorist organisation. Hamas is just one group. After the butchery by Hamas’s operatives on the 7th October 2023 during the unprovoked attack, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar reportedly said on the 4th December 2023 that Israel will hunt down Hamas in Lebanon, Turkiye (Turkey) and Qatar even if it takes years. He said, “this our Munich.” Referring to the Israeli response in 1972 when the terrorist group Black September attacked the Israeli Olympic team in Munich, Germany. Israeli athletes were taken hostage at the athletes’ village. Within 24 hours, eleven Israelis, five Palestinians and a German policeman were dead after a rescue effort erupted into gunfire. The Israeli response to the murders of the Israeli athletes was to put a specialised group together to track down and kill those responsible. The operation was known as “Operation Wrath of God.” Israel put a covert operation in place using its security agency, Mossad, to assassinate individuals who had been directly or indirectly involved in the massacre of the Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Israel begins to Keep its promise.
On the 2nd January 2023 Hamas deputy secretary-general Saleh al-Arouri and seven others from the Hamas military wing Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades were killed in Beirut, Lebanon. Al-Arouri was a hardliner who over the past couple of years participated in coordination meetings involving Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) at their “joint war room” in Beirut. Two others of the seven that were killed were leading Al-Qassam commanders. The US had a $5 million bounty on Saleh al-Arouri and designated him as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2015. On the 8th January 2024 Hassan Akasha was eliminated in Beit Jinn, an area under Syrian government control close to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Israel claimed that Akasha was a central figure responsible for rockets fired by Hamas from Syrian territory toward Israel in recent weeks. “Since the beginning of the war, Akasha directed Hamas terrorist cells which fired rockets from Syria toward Israeli territory.” Three senior members of the Hamas police in Rafah were killed on the 10th February 2024 as a result of an airstrike on their vehicle in the Tel al-Sultan neighbourhood, west of Rafah, Gaza Strip. Those killed were the director of investigations Ahmed Eliakubi, his deputy Iman Rantisi, and Ibrahim Shatt. Eliakubi. All were responsible for the security provisions for senior Hamas leaders in the Rafah district. More deaths of those who conspired in the 7th October 2023 are likely to be targeted and eliminated.  
Demise and Disruption
It is estimated that Hamas Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades has between 30,000 – 40,000 fighters although some believe these figures are exaggerated. According to the Times of Israel on the 17th February 2024  the Israeli military has estimated that it has killed about 11,000 Hamas fighters in Gaza since the war began along with more than 1,000 during the 7th October 2023 attack, amounting to about 30% of the group's total fighting force. According to the Al-Arabiya News the number of Palestinians arrested since the 7th October 2024 had reached 7,000 leading to a further decimation of the terrorist group. Israeli numbers are far lower. According to the IDF in a report written in the Jerusalem Post on the 12th February 2024 the total number of IDF servicemen and women to lose their lives since the start of the Israel-Hamas War to 566 (These numbers may also include those murdered by Hamas on the 7th October 2023). The Times of Israel on the 13th February 2024 wrote that the IDF had lost 232 soldiers since the start of the ground offensive against Hamas which commenced on the 27th October 2023. The same newspaper on the 4th December 2023 claimed that 274 IDF soldiers had been killed on the 7th October 2023 by Hamas. Taking into account the dates between the two reports and reporting errors the IDF have lost a very small fraction of those Hamas terrorists killed by the IDF. Communications are difficult with Hamas relying on ‘runners’ as the Hamas communications network has been disrupted. Hamas leaders are reportedly communicating using handwritten notes carried by runners. The terror group is said to have employed aging landline phone network since 2009 to keep conversations hidden from Israeli eavesdropping, but war damage has forced Hamas to use lower-tech methods, which also includes communicating with Hamas political and military leaders along with others outside of the Gaza Strip. The Iran-backed – South Africa imitative at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), (the highest legal justice court in the world), to bring an immediate end to the war by claiming that Israel was committing genocide against the Palestinians was heard on the 11th and 12th of January 2024. The court ruled against the Iran backed – South Africa case that Israel was conducting a genocide approach to the Palestinians on the 26th January 2024. The result failed to force Israel into an immediate cessation of hostilities meaning that the war continued.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Propaganda
On the 2nd January 2024 the Tehran Times was quoted as saying that, “one of the (Israeli) regime's oldest and most decorated units, the 13th Golani Brigades, was pulled out from the fighting, mainly in northern Gaza, after more than 72 of its troops were killed in combat.” It went on to say, “the resistance fighters have been able to completely or partially destroy 71 military vehicles.” More disinformation followed, “the al-Qassam Brigades announced that its resistance fighters were able, in the space of 48 hours, to target 26 Israeli military vehicles. The number of Israeli military vehicles that the Palestinian resistance has partially or completely destroyed has reached around 1,000.” The Tehran Times was the only news outlet to carry these figures. The 5th February 2024 Tasnim News Agency stated, “Dozens of Israeli military vehicles were destroyed by Al-Qassam Brigades in the past few days, the military wing of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas said. Al-Qassam Brigades made the announcement through a statement by its spokesman, Abu Obaida. The Brigades said its fighters have destroyed as many as 43 Israeli military vehicles, including tanks, partially or completely over the course of the last few days.” According to Abu Obaida (the spokesperson for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamist Palestinian political and military organization Hamas) the Palestinian fighters also killed dozens of Israeli forces during 17 military operations across the besieged territory, Press TV reported. The regime's fatalities included 15 troops, who were killed at point-blank range, and an officer and a soldier, who were taken out by Palestinians' sniper fire. A number of Israeli forces were also killed in an explosion targeting the entrance of a tunnel. As part of their achievements, the brigades managed to seize four Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles and fire a volley of rockets at the city of Tel Aviv. The Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian in a Fars News Agency article on the 13th February 2024 quoted that Israel has achieved nothing from more than four months of aggression against the Gaza Strip but murder and destruction, therefor the regime (Israel) was ‘forced’ to hold political talks with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas. In a meeting with officials from different Palestinian groups in Syria’s Damascus on 11th February 2024, Amir Abdollahian stated that Israel totally crumbled after Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, and “if it were not for the US all-out support for the Zionist regime, the collapse would have been completely visible.” The top diplomat added many believe that Tel Aviv and Washington “have gained none of their declared goals since the beginning of the war on Gaza and that they are now forced to hold political talks with Hamas, whom they called for its demise”.
Only those news outlets run by the government of Tehran reported these reports.
Conclusion
The Islamic Republic of Iran paints a picture of victory over Israel and the United States with the reporting of false news and propaganda. Although there is world pressure to bring about an end to the conflict in the Gaza Strip it is not from Hamas or Iran who are on the losing side of the war with Israel. Iran has used South Africa and propaganda in order to attempt to save face for one of its proxy/resistance armies that is being beaten not just on the battle front but in the eyes of the world. Iranian credibility is at stake here. But let’s be quite clear. Hamas may have pulled the trigger against Israel but it was the Islamic Republic of Iran who supplied the bullets. Not only has Hamas lost ground in the Gaza Strip they have currently lost over at least two thirds of their fighting force with countless others captured and some the leaders of the group being targeted. Those of Hamas that are left are in a small piece of real estate in Rafah were the final major battle against the group will take place. In the arena that Hamas had declared its battleground declines, the desperation and its survival instinct will begin to show meaning their actions will become frantic. Time for Hamas and others involved in the conflict is running out for a ceasefire or truce. All that Hamas has left is the Israeli hostages. Here is the carrot and stick for Hamas; Kill the hostages and they will all be eliminated, allow them to be released and surrender, then they may have a chance of survival. Israel has seen what was behind them they now see what is in front of them. Currently the war continues.
 
Paul Ashley

​

 
“Middle Eastern nations need to use their influence over regional actors to ensure the Gaza conflict is contained and prevent “an endless cycle of violence.”
(7th January 2024, Arab News, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Middle east Tour)
Peace in the Middle East: Food for Thought
With so many countries with an ideology of removing Israel, they are, without a doubt fighting for their existence. There are many countries around the world demanding a ceasefire no more so than Muslim speaking countries in and around the Middle East.
Unless those demanding a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas can guarantee that nothing like the attack that occurred 7th October 2023 will ever happen against Israel in the future they will continue fighting. As it stands there are more countries against the victim than there are against the aggressors. The appeasement towards the main culprit, Iran, is evident as they continue to wreak havoc throughout the Middle East or West Asia with no one keeping them in check.
The Arab world must take some blame for the current situation between the Palestinians and Israel. Nothing has been, nor would it, do anything to ensure a resolution between Israel, and Palestine was found. All the peace proposals that have been put forward have given a zero result hence todays problem. If any of those peace proposals had any significance then the war with Israel and Hamas would not be happening.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a long-standing issue, and many countries have attempted to broker peace between the two sides. However, there is no definitive answer to whether any Muslim country has offered a peace proposal that has worked.
The Oslo Accords were signed in September 1993 by the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s Yasser Arafat and Israel’s Labour Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in Washington. The deal was a historic breakthrough as it meant that the PLO recognised the State of Israel for the first time, and Israel recognised the PLO as the representative of the Palestinians. It allowed for the self-administration of major Palestinian population areas by a new Palestinian Authority, led by Arafat, although the majority of the West Bank remained under joint or sole Israeli control. The interim period was supposed to build both mutual trust and Palestinian institutions.
However, the process fell apart and major stumbling blocks remained. The difficult “final status” issues were not resolved by 1999, including the exact borders of a new Palestinian state, the status of Jerusalem, the fate of Palestinian refugees and their descendants, Israel’s settlements, and Israel’s security arrangements. Negotiations continued but ultimately failed.
The Arab Peace Initiative, proposed by Saudi Arabia in 2002, called for Israel to withdraw from the territories it occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem, in exchange for normalizing relations with Arab countries. The initiative was re-endorsed by the Arab League in 2007 and 2017, but it has not been implemented.
In 1979, Egypt became the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel, followed by Jordan in 1994. However, the peace treaties have not led to a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
There have only been two peace treaties that have stood the test of time.
The peace treaty between Israel and Egypt was called the Egypt–Israel peace treaty. It was signed in Washington, D.C., United States, on 26 March 1979, following the 1978 Camp David Accords. The treaty was signed by Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt, and Menachem Begin, Prime Minister of Israel, and witnessed by Jimmy Carter, President of the United States.
The peace treaty between Israel and Jordan was signed on 26th October 1994. The treaty is formally known as the “Treaty of Peace between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.” It ended the state of war that had existed between the two countries since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and established mutual diplomatic relations. The treaty also settled land and water disputes, provided for broad cooperation in tourism and trade, and obligated both countries to prevent their territory being used as a staging ground for military strikes by a third country.
In summary, while some Muslim countries have offered peace proposals between Israel and the Palestinians, none of them have led to a resolution of the conflict. The Arab Peace Initiative, proposed by Saudi Arabia in 2002, called for Israel to withdraw from the territories it occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem, in exchange for normalizing relations with Arab countries. The initiative was re-endorsed by the Arab League in 2007 and 2017, but it has not been implemented.
Relationships
Saudi Arabia has had strained relations with Hamas due to its ties with Iran. The Saudi’s are partly to blame. Whilst they want the war in Gaza to stop, they fail to address the common factor, Iran. Iran and Saudi Arabia through negotiations using Oman and Iraq but mainly with the help of China signed an agreement in March 2023 to renew diplomatic relations after a seven year period of no diplomatic ties.
If Arab countries had put as much into stopping the smuggling of weapons and other military logistics into Gaza and the West Bank as they do to blaming Israel for the current situation then this whole mess would have been sorted out a long time ago. Israel is blamed for the blockade of the Gaza Strip. But no other country wanted to assist and stop Iran attempting to smuggle weapons, ammunition and other equipment into the Gaza Strip which would upset the equilibrium in the area. Israel was not the only country involved with the blockade. Egypt was also responsible.
Currently even a large number of press and media outlets refer to the conflict as the “Israel Gaza conflict.” They are incorrect.
It is the Israel – Hamas conflict.
Iran, the Palestine Islamic Jihad and Hamas have put the people of Gaza in the firing line with no respect for the ordinary Palestinian. The three are more than comfortable placing innocent civilians and structures to their own use and that is to turn the world against Israel by using propaganda. Remember, Israel did not choose the battle ground for this current conflict.
Now with the Hamas – Israel conflict the Saudis do not want to upset the fragile agreement brokered by China. Whist Iran continues to boast of their new found relationship they are also the ones in the driving seat regarding the Hamas – Israel war.
Iran is the lead vocal calling, for nations to stop supporting Israel by boycotting Israeli goods. They are also the lead voice telling others to rid the region of the United States and the United Kingdom. Iran claims that only regional countries can provide the security needed. Iran has the largest military force in the Middle East and is more than capable of overpowering any other military power with its drone and missile capabilities which have been left unchallenged.
With a weakened United States presence in the Gulf Region Iran could then go the whole hog and produce at least one nuclear device giving it the overall capability to threaten any country putting any resistance to Iran being the overall power in the Region. Even though both Israel and the United States have pledged that Iran would never have ‘the bomb.’
The talks and agreement of 2015/16 gave the Obama administration the upper hand at the time of signing. The Trump administration withdrew from the agreement in 2018 after president trump believed the agreement should have gone further and including Iranian drone and missile capabilities and Iran’s use of their proxies in the region.
Regional Actors who do not want Peace
Hezbollah (The Party of God) – is supported by Syria and of course Iran who are an Asian country. Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah has been a long-time ally of the Ba’ath government of Syria, ruled by the Al-Assad family. Hezbollah has helped the Syrian Ba’ath government during the Syrian civil war in its fight against the Syrian opposition, which Hezbollah has described as a “plot to destroy its alliance with al-Assad against Israel.” According to the Institute for the Study of War, Iran and Syria have been the primary supporters of Hezbollah.
The Palestinian Islamic jihad (PIJ) is primarily supported by Iran. The PIJ is a militant group founded with the goal of liberating Palestine through armed struggle and by appealing to the region’s Islamic heritage. Iran provides the group with financial aid, military assistance, and political backing. PIJ is considered a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States, European Union, Israel, and others. While Iran is a key supporter, the level of support from other Middle Eastern countries varies, and some countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia, view PIJ with suspicion due to regional rivalries and differing geopolitical interests. The Syrian government, led by Bashar al-Assad, has also provided the group with a safe haven in Damascus.
Saudi Arabia views the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) with suspicion mainly due to regional rivalries and geopolitical considerations. The Saudi government has historically aligned itself with other political actors and groups that share Sunni affiliations. PIJ, being a Shiite-affiliated organization and having close ties with Iran, runs counter to Saudi Arabia's interests in the region. Saudi Arabia has traditionally supported Palestinian groups that align more closely with Sunni interests, such as Fatah, which is led by the Palestinian Authority. These sectarian and geopolitical factors contribute to Saudi Arabia's scepticism and suspicion towards the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Fatah is a Palestinian nationalist and social democratic political party. It was founded in the late 1950s by Yasser Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas, and others. Fatah has had a strong involvement in revolutionary struggle in the past and has maintained a number of militant groups. However, unlike its rival Islamist faction Hamas, Fatah is no longer regarded as a terrorist organization by any government.
Saudi Arabia has recently shifted its stance towards the Palestinian cause, including Hamas and the PIJ. The country has been aligning itself with US and Israeli positions that are hostile to the Palestinian cause. According to Middle East Eye, Saudi Arabia has put dozens of Hamas members and supporters on trial, which is a dangerous shift in its policy towards Hamas and Palestinians. The trials have started nearly a year after Riyadh launched a campaign of arrests targeting dozens of Hamas members and supporters, which included closing their companies, confiscating their money and prohibiting bank transfers. However, the reasons behind Saudi Arabia’s shift in policy towards PIJ are not clear.
Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist militant group that currently governs the Gaza Strip. According to the US State Department, Hamas is supported by Iran and Turkey. Qatar is also known to have provided financial and political support to Hamas.
Qatar is a key financial backer and ally of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas. Qatar has transferred more than $1.8 billion to Hamas. The current head of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, has resided in Doha since 2016. Qatar has been called Hamas’ most important financial backer and foreign ally. It is important to note that Qatar has denied supporting Hamas’ political position and has stated that its policy is to help facilitate constructive engagement between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. Qatar’s involvement in negotiations with US enemies, hosting of Hamas leaders, and its role in facilitating military agreements with the US have been reported in the news.
Syria has a long and complicated relationship with Hamas. Hamas’ origins lie in the trans-national Muslim Brotherhood group, which believes politics should be guided by religion and which undertakes social welfare and community activities, but also has an armed wing. Before the rift, Hamas had long kept a political base in Syria, receiving Damascus’ support in its campaign against Israel. However, the Syrian government, led by Bashar al-Assad, has also provided the group with a safe haven in Damascus.
Turkey
Turkey has been a staunch supporter of the Palestinians, including Hamas, for more than 20 years. The presidency of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan began when Erdoğan took the oath of office on 28th August 2014. According to The Times of Israel, Turkey has a long and lasting relationship with Hamas. Turkey has allowed the terror group to keep an office in Istanbul for more than a decade and has kept in touch with Hamas leadership since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. Turkey’s support for Hamas is also driven by President Erdogan’s ideological affinity for the Muslim Brotherhood which is where the main ideology of Hamas originated from. Turkey considers Hamas as a liberation and not a terrorist group. Turkish President Erdogan said, “Hamas is not a terrorist organization, it is a liberation group, ‘mujahideen’ waging a battle to protect its lands and people.” Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has slammed Israel for its ‘shameful methods’ with its war in Gaza. He fails to mention his countless attacks on innocent Kurds. Turkey hosts senior Hamas officials, including Saleh al-Arouri. Hamas head Ismail Haniyeh and former chief Khaled Meshal visit Turkey often. According to Israel's Shin Bet, Hamas has established a command post in Turkey. which it uses to recruit operatives and oversee operations in the Middle East. The Foundation for Defence of Democracies reported that in December 2023 Hamas leaders held a secret meeting in Turkey. The meeting included the deputy chairman of Hamas’s political bureau, Saleh al-Arouri, along with former Hamas chief Khaled Mashal and other high-ranking Hamas officials. According to the report, the officials discussed potential next steps in the war against Israel (Oct 23), potential involvement by the Lebanese, Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, and a possible new round of hostage releases. Turkey provides financial and logistical support to Hamas. The Turkish government has become a stalwart supporter of the Palestinian militant group. Senior Hamas officials, including Saleh al-Arouri (later killed in Lebanon on the 2nd January 2024), are based in Turkey. Hamas head Ismail Haniyeh and former chief Khaled Meshal visit Turkey often. The Times of Israel reported on the 14th September 2023 that Israel had intercepted 16 tons of chemicals used in rocket fuel headed to the Gaza Strip from Turkey. Authorities say the shipment of ammonium chloride was hidden in containers of plaster, discovered by customs officials at Ashdod port. Ammonium chloride is a dual-use chemical that Israel bars from Gaza due to its potential to be used to construct rockets. Hamas dismissed the find as “fabrication.” Clearly Turkey wants peace in the Middle East but has done nothing to prevent a conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Military Support
Hamas, the PIJ and Hezbollah are supported by Iran especially when it comes to supplying weapons and or technology. Middle Eastern intelligence organisations must be aware of how weapons and ammunition are finding their way to these organisations but choose to do nothing. By doing nothing and allowing the Islamic Republic of Iran to supply weapons, training and ammunition to these groups they are inciting unrest, war and the killing of innocent civilians.
There is a constant flow of intelligence and information that crosses between nations. If the west is aware of what is happening then those countries in the Middle East must also be aware. Ignorance is no excuse.
The blockade of the Gaza Strip and Houthi shipping ports are all in place to attempt military logistics being smuggled into those respective locations. It’s all very well countries demanding the lifting of these blockades but unless those countries band together the militant organisations that are being supplied will continue to cause peaceful problems in the Middle East.”
Interfering with the Affairs of Middle eastern Countries
With the assistance of Iran from planning to funding, Hamas (and other proxies in the Region) were able to prepare for the inevitable confrontation with Israel. Iran is as much to blame as are those who chose to ignore the intelligence that they must have found over the years that Iran planned to use a proxy terrorist group to attack Israel.
People have known for a long time that Hamas was building tunnels and that Iran was assisting them. The Islamic Republic of Iran has since it came to be in 1979 sworn to eradicate Israel and over the last four decades built up armies to surround Israel. Hezbollah, Hamas and the Palestine Islamic Jihad movements to name three of the more prominent ones.
Iran supports and funds these organisations for one reason and that is to fight Israel on behalf of the Tehran government so that they can achieve one of their main revolutionary goals. Those who have turned a blind eye to this knowledge are as guilty as any other. After all, if the west know of Iran’s malign activities so does Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Bahrain, Oman and the UAE. Turkey must also be included with these countries. They have dirty hands.
Conclusion
France’s foreign minister Catherine Colonna was not short when she spoke to the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian when she, “delivered a very clear message: the risk of regional conflagration has never been so great; Iran and its affiliates must immediately cease their destabilizing acts.” The one factor that everyone is failing to not just mention, but also address, is the main culprit in the destabilisation of the Middle east.  The second point to be addressed are those who support and give funds to Hamas and other terrorist organisations in the Region because they are Muslim or Arab for, they also threaten peace in the Middle East. Acquiring peace in the Region will be long and complex with politicians and peace makers being in the forefront. But, the Nations of the Middle East, not the Islamic Republic of Iran who must be kept out of all negotiations, must show willingness for any initiative to work. Iran’s plan of ‘neighbourhood policy’ is a method of ‘divide and conquer.’ Encouraging countries in the Middle East to cease having friendly ties with the United States and Israel is nothing short of attempting to dictate who they can and cannot have bonds with. The United States must also shoulder some of the blame. From its ‘listening tours’ to its heads of state visits there will have been an exchange of intelligence. Currently there is still a great deal of support for terrorist organisations in the Middle East that nations must stop in order for peace to move forward. Unless the intelligence organisations of the Middle East support one another in putting a stop to the evil militias in the Region, war, unrest and any notion of peace will never get off the starting blocks. If they want a peaceful Region then they will have to do something about it and not just turn a blind eye to what is happening under their noses and in their own back yard. In order for peace to be achieved in the Middle East, Israel has to be included as it is an integral part of the Region. The other is to isolate and cease the Iranian interference within Middle Eastern countries. It would be a difficult road but one that should be made a priority in order to give those who live in the Region a decent way of life instead of hate.
But for all that to happen, leaders, politicians and lawmakers need to sit down and talk.