Israel’s Battlefield Setbacks Lead to Unexpected Negotiations with Hamas, Says Araghchi

In recent statements, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asserted that Israel has failed to meet its objectives during its aggressive actions in the Gaza Strip. This comes amid a backdrop of ongoing tensions and negotiations with the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas.

During the closing ceremony of the conference titled “Al-Aqsa Storm and Gaza: Realities and Narratives,” held in Tehran on Tuesday, Araghchi emphasized the importance of narratives in shaping foreign policy. He articulated several key points regarding the relationship between diplomacy, media, and military operations:

• Integration of Diplomacy and Operations: Araghchi stated that diplomacy and field operations are not distinct but rather function in an “integrated manner.”
• Media’s Role: He highlighted that the media plays a crucial role in constructing the narrative around diplomatic efforts, noting, “We may achieve success in diplomacy and the field, but if we fail in the media realm, our victories will turn into failure, and vice versa.”
• Unified Approach: The Foreign Minister pointed out that “the field, diplomacy, and media should work together,” as each element is vital to the overall success of their strategies.

Reflecting on his tenure at the Foreign Ministry, Araghchi remarked, “Over the past few months that I was at the Foreign Ministry, there was no distinction between our efforts in the field and our diplomatic activities.” He reiterated that “our diplomacy is our field, and our field is also our diplomacy.”

Regarding Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, Araghchi declared that Israel has not achieved any success through its actions in Gaza, asserting that the Palestinian Resistance has triumphed on the battlefield. He stated, “Resistance is an ideal and a school, one that cannot be eradicated through aerial bombardment or violence.” Moreover, he emphasized that “the main weapon of the Resistance is not conventional military weapons; rather, it lies in the sacrifice of its martyrs.”

In his remarks, he also noted that the Israeli regime had no choice but to negotiate with Hamas following 16 months of violence against Palestinians. Additionally, he mentioned that there has been pressure on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to label Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a war criminal.