The year is 2024...

... and we are in the midst of intense negotiations for the release of the Israeli hostages and a ceasefire, but for Yahya Sanwar and the Hamas leaders in Gaza the year is 627 AD and we are in the midst of the "Battle of the Trenches".

In March 627, the members of the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadir went to war against the Muslims in the city of Medina, where only 5 years earlier the Prophet Muhammad had established the first "Islamic State". The Jews claimed that they were unjustly expelled from their homes and therefore sought to subdue the Muslims. For this purpose, they recruited a strong alliance of thousands of fighters from among the Arab tribes who were then opposed to the new religion of Islam.

The Muslims, who learned ahead of time of the alliance's intention to march into Medina and defeat them, resorted to a ruse. The Prophet Muhammad knew very well that his people were at a complete disadvantage, both in terms of the number of fighters and in terms of the amount and type of ammunition. Therefore, the Prophet Muhammad ordered his men to dig deep into the ground and build a moat that would actually protect the Muslim army behind high, impenetrable earthen ramparts.

When the large army mobilized by the Jews arrived at the outskirts of the city of Medina, they discovered that they could not destroy the Muslim army as they had hoped and placed a siege on the city in order to cause the Muslims to surrender due to hunger and thirst.

The Qur'an describes how when the Muslims saw the great army that had gathered to destroy them, it was a day when "the hearts rose and choked the throats" with fear, but those of the Muslims who were truly believers looked at the enemy who pitied them "and this only strengthened their faith and increased their devotion".

The Qur'an goes on to say that the believers were determined to keep their promise - to win or die a martyr's death - and the fact that circumstances were against them did not make them abandon their faith.

The Qur'an states that the siege lasted for many weeks during which Allah actually tested the hearts of the believers and it could be argued who truly believed and who was a hypocrite. After several weeks of a severe siege, Allah suddenly sent a strong wind and intense cold that created havoc in the enemy's camp. Allah's angels sowed discord and division among the various tribes, until finally the invading army abandoned the battlefield and the Muslims were crowned the victors.

The battle ended with the Muslims taking revenge on the Jews and slaughtering the Jewish tribe living in the city of Medina.

Back to March 2024

Hamas leaders continue to firmly refuse any outline of a ceasefire that does not include an unequivocal commitment by Israel to a full withdrawal from the Gaza strip and a complete cessation of fighting against Hamas.

Hamas leaders are still convinced that the "victory" promised to them from heaven is within reach, provided they do not surrender and continue to fight.

Despite all the fire directed at the strip, they still hold to the belief that sooner or later there will be a division among the Israeli public as well as between Israel and its Western allies and at the end of the day Israel will be forced to surrender and agree to a ceasefire under the conditions that Hamas demands.

The root of the belief in this does not derive from the analysis of the situation on the battlefield but from an unquestionable religious belief.

As far as Hamas leaders are concerned, there are only two options, and two options only - either victory or martyrdom. They are still convinced that victory is within reach but are also willing to sacrifice their people and themselves in an attempt to achieve it.

in the picture:

The Negev fields as they really look in March 2024