Al-Aqsa Flood Examined: Realist Critics VS. Resistance Realities

In his article, Bader al-Ibrahim examines the critiques surrounding the Al-Aqsa Flood operation. Some critics frame their opposition through a "realist" lens, emphasizing stability and the human toll, often accusing supporters of ignoring civilian suffering. Al-Ibrahim questions whether this form of realism genuinely serves the Palestinian cause or simply aligns with prevailing power structures. In contrast, he suggests that resistance aims to challenge these structures, creating momentum for historical change.

Al-Ibrahim identifies Arab regime liberals as primary critics, many of whom advocate for a peace-centric realism focused on a two-state solution. He argues, however, that this approach lacks a genuine understanding of “realism”: over thirty years after the Oslo Accords, settlement expansion, and violence have eroded any meaningful prospects for a two-state framework, leaving these calls as little more than slogans. Other critics, he notes, predict inevitable Zionist victories based on Western technological superiority, viewing resistance as naive. Al-Ibrahim challenges this assumption, pointing out that technological dominance alone has not always guaranteed success in historical conflicts.

In addition to these ideological critiques, criticism also comes from Arab Spring liberals, including left-leaning liberals and Islamists, who question the costs of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation. Al-Ibrahim finds irony in their stance, pointing out that many of these same critics previously endorsed armed resistance and even jihadist factions in Syria, often overlooking the resulting human toll. He argues that, in the face of colonial power intent on extermination, these critics suddenly turn to pragmatism, now questioning the operation's effectiveness and costs.

Additionally, criticism arises from humanitarian concerns about civilian impact and displacement. Al-Ibrahim acknowledges these concerns, suggesting that while resistance incurs a human cost, it must be weighed against the consequences of passivity amid a long-term threat to the Palestinian cause. He frames resistance as a cumulative process, with each action contributing to an eventual transformation, even if some steps fall short initially.

In conclusion, al-Ibrahim stresses the urgency of action as West Bank displacement, the Judaization of Al-Aqsa, and Gaza’s siege continue. He argues that while resistance involves risks, the dangers of inaction are far greater, leading to further ethnic cleansing. This view proposes a balance between realism and resistance, underscoring that active resistance creates an opportunity to counter these outcomes, reinforcing the idea that "non-defeatist realism" requires the emergence of "the flood".