The Collapse of the Old Order in Gaza and the Shift in the Power Geometry
Dr. Hadi Borhani, in an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, stated: “While the Gaza Strip, after two years of devastating war, is on the verge of entering an ambiguous stage of political and social reconstruction, diplomatic movements in Cairo, Ankara, and Doha are signs of a new chapter in the Palestinian conflict. However, it seems that regional and international powers have not yet reached a unified conclusion regarding the future of Gaza. Under such circumstances, recent developments are not only a test for the future of Palestine but also an opportunity to determine Iran’s real position in the new equations of West Asia.”
He added: “The current crisis in Gaza is, in fact, a stage in the process of ‘power fragmentation’; a concept first introduced in a report by the American Stimson Center.” He explained: “The recent war not only destroyed Gaza’s physical infrastructure but also transformed the traditional power structures among Palestinian groups. Today, Gaza faces a set of local actors, from Hamas and Islamic Jihad to the Palestinian Authority and smaller resistance groups, each seeking to maintain their influence in the post-war period.”
Borhani emphasized: “Contrary to Western, Arabic, and Hebrew propaganda, in practice, Hamas has not only not been weakened but has become an unavoidable actor in the future order of Gaza. Because all parties, even Egypt and Turkey, have accepted that no plan will last without the presence and consent of Hamas. What is designed in Washington or Tel Aviv is based on eliminating resistance, but the reality on the ground says otherwise. Hamas today is not merely a military group but a symbol of the Palestinian national will against occupation.” He added: “In continuation of efforts to form a committee to administer the Gaza Strip, the Hamas movement recently announced that it has provided Egypt with a list of forty-five independent figures; a list prepared with the consensus of Palestinian groups, and this means the continuation of Hamas’s presence and role after the war.”

The Regional View on the Future of Palestine: From Competition to Cautious Convergence
Borhani clarified: “New developments in Gaza have led to a redefinition of the approach of regional countries towards the Palestinian issue. In the past, most Arab and Islamic countries spoke merely from a position of sympathy with the Palestinian people, but today, the Gaza issue has turned into a security and geopolitical dossier. Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and even Saudi Arabia are each trying to play the role of mediator or determining actor in the political future of Gaza.” He added: “The interesting point is that many countries in the region have concluded that the complete elimination of Hamas is neither possible nor desirable. Even in recent meetings in Cairo and Istanbul, despite political differences, the principle of preserving the indigenous structure for administering Gaza has been agreed upon. This means a gradual return to realism in dealing with the resistance.”
Borhani then referred to the role of the Israeli regime and its efforts to disrupt the ceasefire process, saying: “The Zionist regime knows that continued stability in Gaza, especially with the presence of popular forces and local committees, further questions its legitimacy. For this reason, through limited attacks and repeated violations of the ceasefire, it tries to stifle any new order before it takes shape. This is the same pattern that was previously experienced in Lebanon.”
He emphasized: “The position of Islamic countries is decisive in this regard. If the Islamic axis, including Iran, Turkey, Qatar, and other countries, can agree in a common framework to support the new Palestinian structure, the Israeli regime and its Western supporters will be forced to retreat. But if this coordination does not exist, Washington will try again to revive a version of the so-called ‘Deal of the Century’.”

Iran’s Strategic Future and the Consolidation of the Resistance Axis
Borhani described Iran’s role in the new regional equations as “pivotal and irreplaceable” and explained: “Iran, in recent years, even after the experience of the twelve-day war, has shown that it is not only a supporter of the resistance but can also help manage regional crises through political channels. By intelligently supporting Palestinian groups, Iran has, on one hand, disrupted the security equations of the Israeli regime and, on the other hand, strengthened the international legitimacy of the resistance.”
He added: “Iran’s strategy in the post-Gaza war phase, contrary to Western propaganda, has not been based on escalating confrontation but on consolidating a balance of deterrence. The Islamic Republic of Iran, through active diplomacy with countries such as Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt, is trying to transform the resistance from a purely military structure into a political and social network with popular backing.” Referring to the importance of the shift in regional public opinion, Borhani said: “The images of the massacre of civilians in Gaza have revealed the true face of the Israeli regime in the Arab world. Today, even the new generation in Arab countries that previously tended towards normalization has taken a stance against this process. This means the soft power of the resistance is being rebuilt, and Iran must utilize this social capital in the best way possible.”
He emphasized: “Tehran can pursue three parallel paths: consolidating regional diplomacy with a focus on Islamic countries and emphasizing the end of occupation; strengthening the capacity for Gaza’s reconstruction through humanitarian and economic cooperation; and continuing political and spiritual support for the resistance as a symbol of the quest for justice in the Islamic world.”
In conclusion, this analyst, with a forward-looking perspective, noted: “Today’s developments in Palestine are a historical opportunity to redefine Iran’s role in West Asia. What began in the field of new developments in Gaza has now become a test for all regional governments: will they stand with the nations, or will they distance themselves from their Islamic and human identity under the shadow of Washington’s pressures? Iran, in this context, is the only actor that has consistently and transparently stood by the resistance from the beginning until today, and this very continuity is the secret to its power and credibility in the region.”