Alwaght- Whereas Tel Aviv tries to cause gaps between the Palestinian factions to undermine them and guarantee its security, its efforts have delivered the reverse as Palestinian factions move to further convergence. Though resistance factions, from Hamas to Islamic Jihad to the newly-founded groups in the West Bank, have so far engaged in fight against the Israeli occupation separately, they are now under a united and sturdy umbrella of Joint Operations Room (JOR) and what is going on these days in confrontation of the Israeli enemy is an outcome of the decisions made at the JOR. Actually, currently, this body is one of the forms of military and national unity of the Palestinians against the Israeli regime.
The role of the JOR grew more apparent after the assassination of three leaders of the Islamic Jihad and death of dozens of people during Israeli attacks by fighter jets last week and the subsequent retaliatory rocket strikes of the resistance forces on Israeli cities. From Wednesday, the JOR took over the command of the war with Tel Aviv and launched the ‘Operation Revenge of the Free’ by firing barrages of hundreds of rockets into the occupied territories.
The command center initiated its activities in Hamas-led Operation Sword of Al-Quds in May 2021 and managed to force Tel Aviv to give in to ceasefire. Now, too, it is extensively acting under Hamad and Islamic Jihad.
Foundation of JOR
That the Palestinian resistance groups are standing united in the face of the Israeli regime is a product of years of unceasing efforts of the commanders who have worked towards further unity among the Palestinians.
The initial core of the united military body was established in 2006 with the publication of the initial formula by the Ezzeddin Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad. In the founding document, the formation of a single resistance front to fight the occupation forces and coordinate its activities, and also formation of a single political authority were approved. The JOR officially announced its existence in 2018 with the beginning of the ‘March of Return’ popular campaigns in Gaza, to inform the enemy that from that time on, the resistance was united and will not allow occupation to continue in the Palestinian territories.
This operation room is aimed at uniting the resistance and forming a joint command, and publishing united press statements. It provides arms and training to other resistance groups to empower them against the Israeli military.
The JOR contains 12 armed wings, including Ezzeddin Qassam Brigades, Quds Brigades, Al-Aqsa Martyers’ Brigades-Nodal Al-Amoudi (AMB-NA), Martyr Abul Qader Al-Hussein Brigades, Naser Salahaddin Brigades, National Palestinian Resistance Brigades, Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, Jihad Jibrael Brigades, Ansar Brigades, Mujahed Brigades, Ayman Awda Brigades, and Army of Storm Brigades.
A year after the foundation of this command center, Ezzeddin Qassam Brigades admitted that it was a valuable achievement that could unite the Palestinian forces and prevent sudden decisions. The military organization also announced in 2019 that in time of need, the military forces provide their capabilities to the JOR, which has been supporting them with military equipment and training for many years to counter Israeli attacks and protect the internal front in Gaza. In November 2018, Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas’ Political Bureau in the Gaza Strip, described the JOR as representing core of the Palestinian liberation army and a model for joint action against the occupation.
The command center earlier was active only in Gaza, but now and with foundation of new resistance factions, it will see activity boost in the West Bank and will open multiple fronts against the Israeli regime.
Joint military exercises
To keep its combat readiness high, the JOR held several rounds of military drills. At the end of December 2020, the body held its first military exercise, codenamed ‘Strong Support’ in Gaza, which many experts at the time called a prelude to the formation of the prospective Palestinian army. In the maneuvers, the Palestinian groups conveyed their message of unity to the Israeli occupation forces to consider all aspects before any conflict with the resistance.
In the drills, which were held with the presence of 12 military wings, they trained on a united military action. Describing the maneuvers, the resistance commanders said it was defensive and aimed at countering the Israeli enemy and supporting the Palestinian nation’s aspirations to their genuine rights. They included ground, air, and sea training and use of live ammunition, with drones flown over Gaza and missiles fired towards the sea.
A year later, the JOR held a new exercise, codenamed Strong Support 2, which was held at the right time and within the framework of training and combat preparation. In this exercise, missiles were tested, operations were carried out to penetrate into the occupied territories, and forces were trained on how to capture enemy soldiers to gain a bargaining chip in the prisoner swap case.
In December 2022, the third exercise, Strong Support 3, was held. It included shooting, training to attack military installations and residential buildings in occupied territories, and landing and kidnapping operations behind enemy lines. The effects and results of these joint maneuvers can be clearly seen in the recent battles in Gaza, where the resistance groups have grabbed calm from the Israeli eyes with hundreds of rockets fired at the Israeli settlements.
Military unit of JOR
Political analyst and author Talal Okel told Khaleej Online news outlet that the JOR is a military unit for the resistance forces in Gaza and designs the anti-Israeli operations.
“One of the main functions of this joint room is to prevent Israeli efforts from causing gaps among the resistance factions in Gaza,” said Okel said.
Over the past decade, Tel Aviv has gone to great lengths to divide Hamas from Islamic Jihad and thus engage one side should war erupts. In recent days, the Israelis planned to use this tactic to keep Hamas away from the battlefield and even threatened to assassinate its commanders if the movement intervened in the conflict with Islamic Jihad. But these warnings could not disturb the unity of Palestinian groups and Hamas is carrying out joint operations side by side with the Islamic Jihad. Even commanders of this movement have acknowledged that they act united and integrated. Fighting against multiple groups in Gaza has made the confrontation difficult for the Israelis.
It was this unity that pushed the Israelis to beg Egypt for mediation and ceasefire. But under JOR, the resistance groups are not afraid of long war and even expressed readiness to fight for several months. They asserted that prolonged war serves Palestinian interests because it will sink the occupied territories into terror.
But Israeli hardliners are not interested in a prolonged war as it imposes high financial and human costs on them. However, for the resistance groups that count the seconds for fighting the Israeli regime, the current conflict will provide them with experience and add to their combat capabilities, and is, indeed, a big test for the JOR to show the world that unity is the secret of victory over the occupiers.
Having exploited even minor gaps among Palestinians over the past seven decades to advance its occupational schemes, Tel Aviv now faces a bulwark like the JOR that is uneasy to break. Palestinians of Gaza and the West Bank have come to the reality that the Israeli regime only knows the language of force and are trying to realize their ultimate goal of liberation of the occupied territories under the umbrella of the JOR. The outcome of developments suggests that this aim is not beyond reach.
