NNA - Major General Abbas Ibrahim considered the October 7 operation "more than successful militarily and security-wise, as it was conducted very secretly and with high professionalism on the security level. History books will remember it as one of the most significant operations globally on these levels." In an interview with the "Newsmaker" program on "Russia Today," he noted that "the Al-Aqsa Flood operation brought the Palestinian issue back to the forefront after it had been forgotten. If there is no political solution to this issue, worse will come to the region." He added, "I am not optimistic about the upcoming negotiations. The Gaza war is open-ended and is not related to ending 'Hamas' or retrieving those missing. The war has become a personal matter for the enemy's Prime Minister."
Regarding the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, Major General Ibrahim responded to a question: "The military and security levels cannot be separated in the matter of October 7. It is more than successful militarily and security-wise, with the security aspect taking precedence as it was conducted very secretly and with high professionalism, paving the way for the military entry into the settlements."
Discussing the political impact of the operation, Major General Ibrahim said, "We need to revisit where the Palestinian issue stood before this matter; it was almost forgotten." He expressed his pessimism about the ongoing negotiations, stating, "I am certainly not optimistic, and the enemy's Prime Minister keeps repeating that this war will not end before achieving its goals. We know that these war objectives are impossible to achieve, as two goals were set initially: ending 'Hamas' and retrieving the missing from the October 7 operation unconditionally. I recall that in 2006, during the Lebanon war, these same conditions were set: ending 'Hezbollah' and retrieving the missing or hostages unconditionally." He pointed out that these two conditions were not met.
When asked if Hamas could return to lead Gaza the day after the war, Major General Ibrahim replied, "The Palestinian people will decide who will protect Gaza and Palestine in the future, not Israel, the Arab states, or any other country in the world. The Palestinian people, after all these sacrifices, have the most right to determine their destiny."
The Lebanese Front
Regarding the Lebanese front, Major General Ibrahim said, "In my opinion, a full-scale war or a major war, as promoted and as conveyed by envoys to Lebanon about the possibility and insistence of the Israeli enemy on conducting it, is unlikely, but not impossible. Thus, the situation will continue in this pattern of escalation and de-escalation as long as the war in Gaza continues. The Israeli enemy will not be able to end the war in Gaza. It may be able to occupy Gaza, which is possible, but can it control Gaza? This is a bigger question. Did it manage to control South Lebanon? How did the issue of South Lebanon end? Did Israel withdraw from Lebanon to implement Resolution 425? Or did it leave under the resistance's strikes? Did it manage to stabilize and live a normal life under its occupation of the South? The same issue will repeat in Gaza and in any occupied place in the world. In Gaza, this enemy, regardless of the massacres it commits, will not be able to control this people. There is Gaza above ground and Gaza below ground. What is happening underground at this moment indicates that this enemy cannot control this small area, so how will it manage with Lebanon, South Lebanon, and Hezbollah’s capabilities?"
He continued, "The Israeli army has become exhausted, not just tired. After almost ten months of war, it has not been able to occupy this small besieged piece of land, cut off even from basic human rights like water and food, let alone ammunition. It could not accomplish this mission, so how can this exhausted army, with its reserve service extended three times, open a second front?"
No Option but Confrontation
Major General Ibrahim said, "If the Israeli enemy wages war on Lebanon, we have no choice but to fight and confront. Imagine Israel attacking us while we remain passive. Confrontation is inevitable, and I believe that on the military level, the capabilities for confrontation are present, ready, and at their highest readiness." He noted, "There is a Palestinian will to fight that has rendered all this time militarily ineffective. There is a strong will in Lebanon and among the resistance in South Lebanon, ready to confront this enemy regardless of the sacrifices. The war and its outcomes are not measured by the number of martyrs, deaths, or destruction, but by the ability to achieve political goals."
Resolution 1701
When asked about some criticisms directed at Hezbollah for opening an internal front and whether this would lead to security chaos, he said, "Political criticism is a legitimate right, and it is a populist discourse adopted by some. But the reality is different, the military and security reality. There is an army, security agencies, and Lebanese security forces that will not allow any security chaos. I believe that at this moment, what we need most is unity and rallying around each other. Some Lebanese who criticize this war have stated openly that if Israel attacks Lebanon, we stand by the resistance. The insistent part on its stance will become isolated over time, and we hope that this part that excessively criticizes the resistance will criticize Israel to the same extent and be as vocal about Israel's actions in Gaza and Lebanon as they are about the resistance. But I do not understand how they can be so vocal against the resistance and only whisper about Israel."

When asked if Resolution 1701 is still viable, Major General Ibrahim replied, "I believe that if we want to restore calm to both sides of the border, Resolution 1701 is the only viable solution. It is almost impossible to amend this resolution. When this resolution was issued, I was the director of military intelligence in South Lebanon and followed the events moment by moment. Resolution 1701 was weighed with a golden scale. These countries that sent their sons and soldiers to this front did not do so in vain. There are guarantees that this resolution establishes calm on both sides of the border. Guarantees and diligent work were done by Lebanon to reach this outcome, and the Israeli enemy would not have accepted it it did not need a ceasefire at that time and to protect its interests under this framework. It must return and implement what it agreed to in 2006, and there is no other solution now to restore calm and return residents to both sides of the border except by adhering to this resolution. 
Lebanon has initiated and said we are ready. Has there been any statement from the enemy's officials confirming their commitment to this resolution?" He pointed out that Resolution 1701 has been violated at all levels, air, land, and sea. Lebanon has never been against implementing the resolution; we have always called for its implementation. But for this resolution to be effective, there must be a balance in its implementation, and the double standards must be abandoned.
 It is no longer acceptable for Lebanon alone to implement this resolution, nor is it acceptable to pressure Lebanon to withdraw the resistance several kilometers away. The issue is not like that. There is no need to force Lebanon to implement it; Lebanon is ready. Go and force the party that refuses to implement it, creating parallel and balanced implementation, and things will be rectified. Otherwise, Resolution 1701 will remain shelved like other resolutions."

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