After the ceasefire was announced, Hamas and the civilian population of Gaza openly expressed their intention to repeat their actions from October 7, making clear their goal of attacking Jews. Moreover, Hamas is already imposing conditions that were not included in the ceasefire agreement, suggesting that their perspective on victory is volatile.
Jihadists believe there is no greater honor than dying for their cause, which allows them to constantly reinterpret the concept of 'winning.' Their goal is to crush the enemy, and if they do not succeed, they celebrate even a draw as a victory. Even if they are defeated, they are content with having survived. This mentality has led to a continuous lowering of expectations, allowing them to celebrate a ceasefire as a victory.
Hamas's perception of 'victory' is rooted in cultural concepts of martyrdom and holy war, leading them to believe they have won even if Gaza is in ruins. This mindset could trigger future attacks on Israel, which will inevitably result in a return to conflict and chaos.
The ceasefire is likely to last for a few days, but history has shown that this cycle of violence tends to repeat itself. Despite the celebrations for having survived, the reality is that everything points to a return to war.
