Suleiman Basharat: With the continuation of the occupation’s crimes, it is difficult to accurately predict the final results of what this stage will lead to.

Dr. Saad Nimr: The events of October 7th brought the Palestinian issue back to the forefront again, in a completely different way.

Nihad Abu Ghosh: The absence of Arab solidarity and the Palestinian division have reduced the ability to benefit from the state of international solidarity

Hani Abu Al-Sabaa: No one can think of a political solution or security arrangement in the region without the active presence of the Palestinians

Samer Anabtawi: The Palestinians were able to impose their narrative internationally, and the internal front must be built and the people’s steadfastness on their land must be strengthened

A year after the Israeli war of extermination on the Gaza Strip, and the bloodshed and brutality that it entailed, what happened has put the Palestinian issue at the forefront of the international political scene, despite Israel’s attempts to obliterate it.

In separate interviews with “I”, writers, political analysts and university professors believe that the ongoing war of extermination has opened the door to increasing international popular solidarity with the Palestinians around the world. The Palestinians have been able to achieve important gains on the international scene and have succeeded in forcefully presenting their cause on international platforms. They have also taken steps to prosecute Israel internationally for the crimes committed against them, although this has not yet been achieved.

They assert that the international popular solidarity has contributed to undermining Israel's traditional image as a democratic state, and has revealed the true face of the occupation as an oppressive force that practices genocide against an entire people.

Writers and analysts stress that in light of what is happening, the Palestinian ranks must be united behind a comprehensive national project that transcends internal differences, strengthens the internal front, and takes the Palestinian cause globally to achieve national rights and demand the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The largest genocide against the Palestinian people

A year after the genocide of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, writer and political analyst Suleiman Basharat believes that it is still premature to talk about clear results for this stage, as Israeli crimes against the Palestinians continue unabated, and with the continuation of this bloody operation, it is difficult to accurately predict the final results of what this stage of the conflict will lead to.

However, Basharat stresses that “despite the continuation of the genocide, there are some interim results that can be stopped at. The entire world has witnessed, and in full view and hearing, the largest genocide to which the Palestinian people have been subjected, amidst bewildering international silence and direct American military support. These events have removed the mask from international claims of protecting human rights, and exposed the falsehood of the positions of many Western countries that have always sung about supporting the Palestinians’ right to liberation, but left them to face the brutality of the occupation without any real intervention.”

In contrast, Basharat points to the emergence of positive positions from the Western street, where popular support for the Palestinian cause has increased in Europe and the United States. This shift has played a major role in breaking the narrative that has long promoted the idea that Israel is a democratic state and that the Palestinians are “terrorists.” Today, the picture has become clearer to many peoples of the world, and the Israeli occupation has become exposed as a terrorist entity that practices killing and destruction, while the Palestinian people appear as victims of this organized terrorism. He also confirms that this international popular movement may rearrange governments based on human rights.

A new phase of legal challenges

One of the important developments that the Palestinians have achieved during this difficult year, according to Basharat, is the success in bringing their cases before the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, although practical measures have not yet been taken. However, this step constitutes an important beginning on the path to holding Israel accountable internationally, which was previously a red line that could not be crossed.

Basharat points out that these events have established a new phase of legal challenges that may haunt Israeli officials in the long term, opening the door to imposing future trials for their crimes.

On the international level, Basharat believes that the Palestinians have proven to the world that they are a people who deserve an independent state and a recognized political entity, as confirmed by the recent vote in the United Nations General Assembly, where a clear decision was issued based on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice that the Palestinians are living under an occupation that must end.

Despite these achievements, Basharat warns of the ongoing challenges facing the Palestinian people, as the Israeli occupation continues its policy of systematic killing and destruction, making the price paid by the Palestinians extremely high.

Unifying the Palestinian ranks behind a unified vision and program

On the other hand, Basharat believes that the only way to restore the political status of the Palestinian cause is to unify the Palestinian national ranks behind a unified vision and program. The current challenges imposed by the war of extermination require overcoming internal partisan differences and unifying efforts in order to confront the common enemy.

Basharat stresses the necessity of forming a comprehensive Palestinian reference, whether by reactivating the unified leadership framework or forming a new framework, to assume responsibility for supervising the Palestinian cause and representing it on the international scene.

Basharat stresses that the existence of such a leadership body will constitute a card of strength for the Palestinians, and will enhance their ability to defend their rights in international forums.

Basharat stresses that the Palestinians have a double responsibility: either they unite and agree on a common vision to confront the occupation, or they remain in a state of weakness and division that increases their suffering.

Redouble diplomatic efforts to expose the occupation's practices

In addition, Basharat calls for doubling Palestinian diplomatic efforts to expose the occupation’s practices to the world, as the Palestinians have a lot of evidence and testimonies documenting Israeli crimes, but they need to present these tragedies to the world in a more effective way so that the international community can experience their suffering more deeply.

Basharat stresses the importance of re-evaluating Palestinian relations with many regional and international parties, and building new alliances that support the Palestinian cause, based on the changes witnessed in the positions of the Western street and the international public towards this conflict.

Basharat discusses possible scenarios for the future of the Palestinian cause, noting that the positive scenario is the continuation of international popular pressure on Western governments, which may lead to political gains for the Palestinians, including the possibility of establishing an independent Palestinian state.

The negative scenario, according to Basharat, is the continuation of Israeli genocide crimes amid international silence, which could lead to a decline in the Palestinian national spirit and an increase in disappointment among the people. This could give the Israeli occupation an opportunity to impose its vision on the future of the Palestinian cause, but Basharat believes that this scenario is less likely given the possibility of the entire region igniting if the injustice against the Palestinians continues.

Radical changes after October 7

In turn, Dr. Saad Nimr, Professor of Political Science at Birzeit University, believes that the events of October 7 led to radical changes on various Palestinian, Israeli, regional and international levels. These developments have brought the Palestinian issue back to the forefront again in a way that is completely different from what it was in the past, especially in light of the growing international support and backing for the resistance front.

Nimr points out that this transformation revealed the true face of Israel in its dealings with the Palestinian people and their cause, in light of the actual absence of the Palestinian narrative globally for many years.

Nimr stressed that "despite this momentum, it is still too early to determine the final direction of events," stressing the need for "the Palestinian leadership to seek to achieve national unity and change its strategies to suit the new reality."

He points out the importance of defining a clear vision of what the Palestinian leadership wants and what it seeks to achieve at this critical stage.

Israel will not deal in any way with the establishment of an independent Palestinian state

Nimr believes that the idea of a two-state solution has become a thing of the past, stressing that “Israel, according to the current prevailing mentality of its leadership, will not deal in any way with the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, which should reflect a change in the Palestinian leadership’s need to look at a new vision for dealing with the revival of the Palestinian cause and the demand for national rights.”

He points out that there have been important achievements at the international level during the recent period, and this international momentum must be invested in order to achieve legitimate Palestinian rights.

Nimr stresses that working to isolate and boycott Israel, especially in the economic aspect, will have a major impact in weakening it, as happened in South Africa, taking advantage of the growing state of global solidarity with the Palestinian people and their cause.

Nimr believes that this approach, along with international and regional pressure, may open new horizons for resolving the Palestinian issue, especially in light of the growing global sympathy for the Palestinians and the increasing exposure of the occupation’s policies to the international community.

Palestinian steadfastness and international solidarity

Writer and political analyst Nihad Abu Ghosh points out that the Gaza Strip, a year after the last war, is suffering from unprecedented destruction and genocide, but this destruction is not only related to the events that began on October 7, but is rather the result of the continuation of the Israeli occupation policies that were not limited to Gaza alone, but extended to include the West Bank as well.

Abu Ghosh points out that the Palestinian resistance, thanks to its legendary steadfastness, alongside the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, has exposed the ugliness of Israeli practices, which has led to unprecedented international solidarity, reaching the point of recognizing the Palestinians’ right to their state.

As the war continues, Abu Ghosh sees new and dangerous political chapters aiming to liquidate the Palestinian cause. He says: “These chapters seek to achieve complete separation between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in addition to forced displacement operations, with the aim of achieving the dream of ‘Greater Israel’.”

He stresses that the absence of Arab solidarity and the Palestinian division have reduced the Palestinians' ability to benefit from the growing international solidarity with their cause.

Abu Ghosh believes that if there had been a unified Arab position supporting the Palestinian people, the situation would not have reached this level of atrocities, pointing out the danger of the daily massacres that accompanied the war of extermination becoming commonplace.

The next stage may witness greater escalation.

Abu Ghosh expects that the next stage will witness a greater escalation as Israel continues to implement its plans related to Greater Israel and the liquidation of the Palestinian cause, pointing out that these plans, despite their danger, are not necessarily capable of ending the Palestinian cause completely.

Abu Ghosh stresses that the Palestinian issue has remained and will remain a central issue on the global level, and failure to resolve it in a just manner will increase global tension and pose a threat to world peace, pointing out that Israel has come under international supervision as a result of the genocide it is practicing against the Palestinian people.

Abu Ghosh stresses that the Palestinian issue is still alive, and that Israel will not be able to end it, whether through conspiracies or wars, as long as the Palestinian people remain steadfast.

On the other hand, Abu Ghosh calls for overcoming internal Palestinian differences and working to develop a joint national program, forming a leadership body to reform the Palestine Liberation Organization, adopting a national program to provide relief to Gaza, in addition to forming a national consensus government and forming a unified leadership body.

Abu Ghosh stresses that "everyone is targeted," which requires internal arrangements to stand up to Israeli plans.

Exposing Israel's true face as a criminal, genocidal power

Writer and political analyst Hani Abu Al-Sabaa points out that the October 7 attacks came after two decades of the siege of the Gaza Strip, which imprisoned more than two million Palestinians in harsh conditions. Many military confrontations failed to end this siege, and most of them ended with truce agreements through mediators, returning the situation to what it was without achieving any real progress in improving the conditions of the Palestinians.

Abu Al-Sabaa points out that the war that came after the attack revealed Israel's true face as a criminal force practicing genocide against the Palestinian people, and reshaped the Palestinian narrative on the international level, confirming that there is a people who aspire to freedom and independence like the rest of the peoples of the world, from the last occupation that still exists on the face of the earth.

Abu Al-Sabaa believes that this bloody war has brought the Palestinian cause back to the forefront of the world forcefully, as the cause has entered all arenas, whether on the political, cultural, or sports level, or even in international alliances.

Resolving the conflict has become an urgent necessity.

It has become clear, according to Abu Al-Sabaa, that there is an international axis sympathetic to the Palestinians in the face of a Western alliance supporting Israel, and resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has become an urgent necessity, amid fears that the Middle East will slide into a comprehensive regional war, the results of which could be disastrous.

Abu Al-Sabaa believes that after a year has passed since the start of the war, it can be noted that Israel, which ignited the fires of this war under the leadership of its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is now suffering from the expansion of the circle of war into the depths, as the Israeli government has been unable to provide security for its citizens.

Abu Al-Sabaa points out that expectations indicated that the war would be short, but this confrontation turned into a long-term war of attrition, which is an unsuitable scenario for Israel, which prefers quick military confrontations against regular armies.

According to Abu Al-Sabaa, this reality affects the morale of the Israeli army, which is clearly evident in the increase in suicide rates among Israeli soldiers, in addition to the challenges facing Israeli society in withstanding this conflict for long periods.

Awakening the global conscience

Abu Al-Sabaa believes that the Palestinians, through their patience and resistance, were able to awaken the global conscience, which prompted international organizations to convene repeatedly to discuss their cause. The Palestinians were able to obtain a permanent seat in the United Nations, and they attracted millions of supporters around the world thanks to the activity of the Palestinian communities in Europe and America, in addition to the role of university students in spreading awareness and sympathy for their cause.

Meanwhile, Abu Al-Sabaa points out that Netanyahu and a number of his ministers are facing threats of international prosecution, after they remained immune from accountability throughout the years of occupation.

“Today, no one can think of a political solution or security arrangement in the region without the Palestinians having an active presence,” Abu Al-Sabaa says. “This conviction has become firmly rooted in the minds of decision-makers, who realize that continuing this conflict without giving the Palestinian people their rights will lead to rounds of conflict that may include new parties, as is the case in Yemen.”

The necessity of national unity and knocking on the doors of international bodies

Abu Al-Sabaa added: “At the end of this tragic year of genocide against the Palestinian people, the need for national unity is more evident than ever, and the Palestinians must overcome their partisan differences for the sake of a homeland that is large enough for everyone.”

On the international level, Abu Al-Sabaa stresses that the Palestinians must work tirelessly to knock on the doors of international bodies to hold the occupation accountable and demand their legitimate rights, in light of the reshaping of the world within new axes and alliances, and the Palestinians must seek to build strategic alliances that serve their interests in cooperation with the surrounding Arab countries.

A shift in the global mood towards Israel

A year after the intense Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, which witnessed mass killings, arrests and extensive bombing, the Palestinian people have managed to stand firm with legendary resilience, according to political analyst Samer Anabtawi.

Anbatawi stresses that this steadfastness, which lasted for a year, was not just resistance on the ground and the thwarting of displacement plans, but rather the Palestinians were able to impose their narrative on the international scene, which led to the trial of the occupying Israeli state as a state committing crimes of genocide.

Anbatawi explains that there is a shift in the global mood towards Israel, as the occupying state is no longer able to market itself as a “democratic state surrounded by terrorists,” but rather the Palestinian narrative of the occupation and systematic violence against the Palestinians has become the narrative adopted by the peoples of the world.

Anbatawi points out that in light of this, the Palestinians stand out for their steadfastness, overcoming the occupation’s attempts to deport them from Gaza and the West Bank, and in clear defiance of the liquidation of their cause.

Israeli confusion prompted it to move the battle to Lebanon

He points to the state of confusion that Israel is experiencing, as it has failed to achieve its main goals from the aggression on Gaza and the war of extermination there, which prompted it to transfer the battle to Lebanon, in an attempt to create a comprehensive war that would enable it to implement plans for displacement and liquidation of the Palestinian cause.

However, Anbatawi confirms that these attempts faced Palestinian and regional steadfastness that thwarted the occupation’s plans, in addition to inflicting heavy losses on Israel, including economic losses, on the part of the axis of resistance.

Anbatawi points out that the United States, which has adopted Israeli policies since the beginning of the war, failed when its Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, came and tried to convince Egypt to open the way for the displacement of Palestinians to Sinai, which increased the occupation’s crisis in achieving its goals.

Anbatawi points out that the axis of resistance, with regional support, has exhausted the Israeli army and weakened the Zionist project, which has begun to decline with the continued inability to achieve its goals.

Although the current stage is difficult and its outcomes cannot be predicted, Anabtawi stresses that the only option before the Palestinians is to continue steadfastness and resistance to thwart the Zionist project in the region.

Anbatawi stresses the importance of Palestinian national unity as a fundamental step for the next stage, calling for rebuilding the Palestine Liberation Organization on clear foundations of struggle, and ending the state of division that has harmed the Palestinian cause at all levels.

Cancel all previous agreements with the occupation

Anbatawi believes that what is required from the Palestinians is to cancel all previous agreements with the occupation, which Israel exploited to strengthen settlements and Judaize Palestinian lands, calling for severing relations with the occupation, as the current stage is a stage of comprehensive confrontation with the Zionist movement that does not want a peaceful solution with the Palestinians.

Among the priorities that Anabtawi stresses is the development of a unified Palestinian national program, through which the international alliances that have emerged to support the Palestinian people are invested. He also suggests going to international institutions to expose the practices of the occupation, indicating that this requires a unified and strong Palestinian position.

Anbatawi stresses the necessity of building the Palestinian internal front and strengthening the steadfastness of the people on their land, while supporting alliances that support the Palestinian cause, and confronting any alliances with the occupying state, including pressuring Arab countries to stop the state of normalization with Israel.