History will not forget the seventh of October as the day that witnessed the biggest shock in the history of the region in over a hundred years, since Palestine fell under British occupation, which handed it over to the state of occupation on the eve of the Palestinian Nakba.
What happened on the morning of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation cannot be understood, analyzed, or comprehended through the natural characteristics known to historians, especially historians of wars.
How could a group of resistance fighters who possess neither an army nor equipment be compared - even just in comparison - to what the occupying state has, and then manage to breach the so-called "Israeli" security barrier surrounding Gaza, known to be impenetrable, and easily enter the heart of the camps and settlements? It must have involved months of planning and preparation beforehand.
Regardless of any party's opinion on what has transpired (whether in our country or in the West), the observer cannot help but contemplate the scene of the unequal battle and the results it led to, which can be termed an impossible victory, despite the limited capabilities of the Palestinians in the face of one of the most formidable military powers in the world and one of the most heavily armed.
In fact, the student of history may be one of the least surprised groups by the outcomes of these events. History teaches us that the idea of achieving the impossible victory throughout time is not truly impossible; rather, it is possible and has occurred at many historical milestones in humanity.
The steadfastness of the Muslims in the Battle of Mu'tah during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), despite the massive numerical difference between the Muslims and the Romans, is considered impossible in logic and reason according to the literature of wars. However, it occurred thanks to the simple strategy of Khalid ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him).
In addition, one of the outstanding instances of impossible victory among unequal forces is the great battle of "Qadisiyyah" in Iraq, which took place between two completely unequal forces. The Muslims in that battle numbered at best around 40,000 fighters, facing more than 200,000 Persian soldiers armed with elephants, a weapon that was unknown to the Arabs at that time. Nevertheless, the Muslims emerged victorious after four days of fierce fighting between the two sides, immediately opening the way to Ctesiphon, the capital of the Persian Empire, after the end of the battle.
The same can be said, to some extent, about the Battle of Yarmouk, the Battle of Ain Jalut, and many other battles of the Muslims where victory seemed impossible, yet it happened.
Actually, it is a mistake to think that the idea of impossible victory was exclusive to Muslims. The history of other nations is filled with dozens of examples of this. One such example is the famous Battle of Brownstown in 1812, which took place between the recently established forces of the United States on one side and the forces known as the "Confederacy of Tecumseh," comprised of Native Americans in the Great Lakes region, on the other. The disparity between the two sides was clear: while the American forces had around 200 armed soldiers, the Native American forces numbered only about 25. Despite this significant difference, the small Native American forces surprised the American troops as the latter attempted to cross the Brownstown River, forcing them to retreat and flee in panic. The Americans suffered 18 fatalities and lost 70 soldiers whose fates were unknown, while the Native Americans lost only one person.
One can also speak about the Battle of 'Gate Pā' which took place in New Zealand in 1864 when British forces, estimated at around 1,700 fighters armed with cannons and heavy weapons, attacked the Māori fighters, the indigenous population, who numbered at best only 200 fighters. The Māori employed traps and strategies based on their knowledge of the land, which led to the British suffering 31 dead and 81 wounded, forcing them to withdraw from the site. Some historians even described the withdrawal as a flight!
The conclusion is that impossible victories demonstrate throughout history that numbers and equipment are not the only elements needed by any party to win a battle. There are many different factors, the most important of which is the moral aspect that diminishes the numerical and military advantage in the face of the psychological side. History is the best witness.
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