<div dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail-top-anchor"></div>
<div id="gmail-toolbar" class="gmail-toolbar-container">
</div><div class="gmail-container" lang="en-EN" dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail-header gmail-reader-header gmail-reader-show-element">
<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-deterrence-against-iran-collapsed--pij-deputy-chief">english.almayadeen.net</a>
<div class="gmail-domain-border"></div>
<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Israeli deterrence against Iran collapsed, PIJ deputy chief says</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Al Mayadeen English</div>
<div class="gmail-meta-data">
<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">April 16, 2024<br></div>
</div>
</div>
<hr>
<div class="gmail-content">
<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><p>The
deputy chief of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement underlines that
the Israeli occupation is fighting a losing battle as "Israel's"
strategic influence is diminishing.</p><img src="cid:ii_lv331laf0" alt="2820fb12-e70b-4244-b099-74679960326b.jpg" width="408" height="230"><br><div><ul id="gmail-content-slick-0"><div aria-hidden="false"><li>
Palestinian Islamic Jihad deputy Secretary-General Mohammad
al-Hindi during an interview with Al Mayadeen, April 16, 2024
(Screengrab)
</li></div></ul>
<p>The Israeli occupation's strategic influence is diminishing at all
levels, and it cannot support itself on its own without aid from the
United States, Palestinian Islamic Jihad Deputy Secretary-General <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-israel--seeking-to-displace-gazans--pij-deputy-chief-to-al" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mohammad al-Hindi</a> told <strong>Al Mayadeen </strong>on Tuesday.</p>
<p>"The balance of power is changing; America has its own problems and
challenges, and Israel does not have the support or capabilities to
assert dominance in the region," the Palestinian top Resistance official
underlined.</p>
<p>"There are new rules of engagement today," al-Hindi said, stressing
that Iran's retaliation was a mere preliminary warning to the Israeli
occupation.</p>
<p>"The West is complicit in Israel's crimes in Gaza and Palestine and
covers them. Yet, we're ahead of a new landscape that necessitates
reassessments," he added.</p>
<p>The United States, the PIJ deputy chief said, <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iran-at-un--further-israeli-mistakes-to-lead-to-more-severe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">does not want a regional war</a>,
especially as it is during an election year, which implies that it
would rather not back an Israeli attack that would bring escalation.</p>
<p>"Gaza today is the battleground that damaged Israel most as it
tarnished the occupation's image due to the fact that it is facing
Resistance factions perfectly capable of manufacturing their own weapons
despite the imposed blockade," he underlined.</p>
<p>Moreover, al-Hindi wondered how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu sought to avoid a regional war as he sought a "tough response"
to Iran's retaliation.</p>
<h2>'Israel' must pay the price</h2>
<p>"The Americans and Israelis want to retrieve the captives at the
lowest possible price, but that issue the trump card in our hands," he
said. "The proposal that was presented as one drawn up by the mediators
is an Israeli paper par excellence, and some of the terms in it are
deceptive."</p>
<p>Al-Hindi went on to tell <strong>Al Mayadeen </strong>that the
resistance submitted its response to the proposal and that it made it
clear that withdrawal was a pivotal part of any agreement, though it
said that a withdrawal could be gradual. Another core demand is a
ceasefire, which the Resistance stressed could also be gradual.</p>
<p><span>"Israel is forced to pay a price through the deal because of
its strategic military failures on the battleground," the PIJ deputy
chief stressed. </span></p>
<p><span>"T</span><span>here is more to come [...] </span>We have more
time for Israel to realize that it must pay the price," he added.
"Israel's deterrence in the face of Iran has ended."</p>
<p>"Israel is facing a real impasse and its options are limited," al-Hindi concluded. "It has grown to appear weaker<span>, and its strategic importance has diminished. Many countries will reassess [their ties to Israel] after the war is over."<br></span><span></span></p>
<h2>'Israel', US lost deterrence</h2>
<p>The Israeli newspaper<span> </span><em>Israel Hayom</em><span> </span>considered that<span> </span><a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/irgc-launches-retaliatory-attack-on--israel--with-10s-drones">Iran's retaliatory attack</a><span> </span>against
Israeli targets is a stark reminder of the loss of Israeli and US
strategic deterrence, highlighting that it created an opportunity to
change the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.</p>
<p>The newspaper indicated that Iran has put itself in direct
confrontation with "Israel", even at a time that does not seem optimal
for it, and has acted against US President Joe Biden's warning not to.</p>
<p>It suggested that Iran "has established a <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iran-s-attack-stark-reminder-of-lost-us--israeli-deterrence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sophisticated strategy</a>
and is patiently, endlessly trying to create a reality where there
becomes a question mark about Israel's existence, not just a theory."</p>
<p>Elsewhere, the newspaper stressed that "Israel" must prioritize and
focus efforts on attempting to harness the United States, alongside a
large Western alliance, to deal with the Iranian attack to restore
deterrence.</p>
<p>In a related context, the Israeli news website<span> </span><em>Walla!</em><span> </span>cited
a security official as saying that "Israel's" response to Iran's
retaliatory strikes may include targeting military infrastructure and
weapon depots, extending to assassination operations against officials.</p>
<p>The security official added that estimates indicate the Iranians have
not yet said their final word, pointing out that the main battleground
would be in the Gaza Strip, and therefore, "we should not expect
broad-scale attacks on Iranian interests."</p></div></div></div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div></div>
</div>
</div>