Hostages, Missiles, and Lies: The Story of Hamas' Bitter Defeat and the Destruction of the Chinese Network
The situation in the Gaza Strip has worsened after Israel launched a large-scale military operation called “Electro-Mechanical Tanks.” In the past 48 hours, more than 300,000 Palestinians in North Gaza have reportedly been displaced. Thousands of homes have been destroyed by Israeli attacks. This data was released by Hamas’ official media in Gaza on May 18, depicting an unprecedented level of destruction in the conflict in the region.
In this stressful atmosphere, Hamas appears to be increasingly losing control and bargaining power. Several times the group has offered the option of handing over all hostages or handing over control of Gaza on condition of a ceasefire. However, in the eyes of the public and international observers, these maneuvers are more a sign of desperation than a negotiation strategy. As quoted from netizen comments: “This is not a change of heart for Hamas, they are indeed running out of energy. Israel is not giving any chances at all—Hamas is truly on the brink of destruction.”
Israeli Military Operations Are Increasingly Aggressive, Gaza’s Humanitarian Conditions Are Increasingly Dire,
According to the Central News Agency, on May 17, the Israeli military continued to expand the scope of its operations in the Gaza Strip. Volunteers on the ground reported that the latest airstrikes had killed at least 10 civilians, while the Israeli blockade of aid made the situation even more critical. The hospitals that were still functioning issued a stern warning: they were no longer able to handle the influx of seriously injured patients due to limited medical supplies and the damage to health facilities caused by the attacks.
The repeated pressure from Israel has not only crippled Hamas militarily, but has also accelerated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Vital infrastructure, from electricity, clean water, to hospitals, is on the verge of total collapse.
The Iran-China Axis Has Been Hit, a Major Failure of Beijing's Middle East Strategy
Hamas’ defeat is not only a tragedy for the Palestinian people, but also a heavy blow to its supporters—especially Iran and China. Observers believe that Israel’s victory and the aggressive strategy of the United States under President Trump are a major blow to China’s ambitions in the Middle East. Beijing has been building a 25-year strategic partnership with Iran for years, protecting the Assad regime in Syria, and supporting proxy groups such as Hamas and the Houthis, but now all of these efforts are collapsing one by one under pressure from the United States and Israel.
Hamas has been destroyed, the Houthis are under pressure in Yemen, and Iran’s influence is increasingly marginalized. China, which has been trying to build an energy and strategic foothold through Iran, is now facing successive failures. Hamas’ financial resources and international protection are dwindling, while Beijing’s logistics and diplomatic channels in the region are increasingly isolated.
Operation “Electro-Mechanical Tank”: Israel’s Strategy to Remove Hamas from Gaza
On May 16, Israel officially launched a military operation codenamed “Electro-Mechanical Tank,” aimed at destroying the remaining forces and infrastructure of the Hamas government in Gaza. This massive operation involves at least six military brigades, around 30,000 infantry troops, more than 400 Merkava tanks, 2,000 armored vehicles, and hundreds of artillery pieces.
The 252nd and 36th Divisions of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have penetrated the heart of Gaza. In the past 24 hours, the Israeli Air Force has bombed more than 150 targets identified as Hamas infrastructure and headquarters. Israel's goal is very clear: to destroy Hamas' power to the roots, while ensuring that Gaza is completely under Israeli control.
The IDF has now moved quickly to Deir al-Balah, Gaza Tamon, Joulia, and Samaria—strategic areas in Gaza that have long been Hamas' main bases. Since the massive attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Hamas' combat strength, which originally reached 30,000 personnel, has now drastically shrunk to around 3,000 to 4,000 people. Hamas' military command structure has been declared completely destroyed. In fact, the number of hostages still held by Hamas is now less than 50 people, with an estimated 20 still alive. Hamas' bargaining position has completely collapsed.
The Anti-American Axis is in Decline, Iran and Syria's Influence is Shrinking,
This situation also has a direct impact on other proxy groups that have been in the shadow of Iran and supported by China. Hezbollah in Lebanon chose not to escalate, avoiding direct confrontation with Israel because the risk was too great. On the other hand, the Houthi group in Yemen also stopped its activities due to the joint US-Israeli attack. The anti-American axis that has been trying to balance power in the Middle East is now completely paralyzed.
The Netanyahu government sees this moment as a golden opportunity to "solve everything in one step." Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis were simultaneously defeated, while Iran lost its courage and Syria began to change the direction of its foreign policy. Israel now holds an absolute strategic advantage in the Middle East region.
Netizen comments also emerged: "Hamas did not realize that it had lost its way - attacking Israel without careful calculation, now it must bear the consequences."
Behind the collapse of this axis, the United States' strategy under Trump is increasingly showing results. Washington signed mega-arms contracts with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and revived the Abraham Accords to normalize relations between Israel and Arab states, while isolating Iran from regional politics.
China Loses Ground: The Biggest Geopolitical Failure of the Century
In this dynamic, China is the biggest loser. Beijing's systematic efforts to build an "energy and strategic network" in the Middle East through Iran are now in disarray. With the fall of Hamas's protective "umbrella" and Iran's increasingly short of breath, all of China's political and economic investments in the region are slowly being wiped out.
This major blow does not only mean defeat in a regional war, but also marks a change in the global power map. The energy, diplomacy, and strategic allies that China has relied on are now in tatters. With Hamas almost completely wiped out, China's trump card in the Middle East is almost gone. It is no exaggeration to say that this failure is one of the biggest geopolitical disasters that China has experienced in the past two decades.
Conclusion: A Major Shift in Global Power, Israel and the US Take Full Control
The political and security map of the Middle East is now drastically changing. Israel holds absolute control in Gaza, while the United States strengthens its position as the main actor in the region, taking advantage of the defeat of proxy groups and the isolation of Iran and China. The world is watching how changes in military and diplomatic strategy in recent months are not only determining the fate of Gaza, but also reshaping the global balance of power.
Hamas is just waiting for the time to be completely erased from the Middle East political map. Meanwhile, China—which was previously very confident in expanding its influence through the axis of Iran, Syria, Hamas, and Houthi—now has to accept the bitter reality: they have lost their footing, lost their allies, and lost a golden opportunity in one of the world's most strategic regions. In a matter of days, Hamas' defeat became a symbol of the failure of China's great ambitions in the Middle East, while also marking a new chapter in global power being held back by the United States and Israel.
SOURCE :
