Deprogram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “Hamas Has Won"

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou bring this eye-opening episode of DeProgram, we dive deep into the controversial claim that Hamas has emerged victorious in the Israel-Hamas war—despite staggering military losses. Drawing on expert analyses from Foreign Affairs, Al Jazeera, and recent 2025 ceasefire breakdowns, we unpack how Hamas's survival, propaganda mastery, and the erosion of Israel's international standing have flipped the script on traditional victory metrics. From the October 7, 2023, attack to the shaky October 2025 truce, explore why survival equals triumph for asymmetric warfare groups like Hamas. If you're tracking Middle East geopolitics, Palestinian resistance, or the failures of modern counterinsurgency, this breakdown reveals the hidden winners in Gaza's ruins. Tune in for unfiltered insights on why "total victory" eluded Israel and what it means for global security.Key Topics Covered Survival as Strategic Win: Despite Israel claiming to have killed 14,000 Hamas fighters (half its pre-war force) and dismantling leadership like Yahya Sinwar, Hamas has rebuilt municipal control, redeployed operatives, and resumed internal security in Gaza post-ceasefire.

inss.org.il

Analysts argue this endurance—maintaining tunnels (80% intact) and governance since 2007—defines victory in irregular warfare, outlasting Israel's "Iron Swords" campaign.

abcnews.go.com

Propaganda & Narrative Domination: Hamas's online blitz, via Telegram and Arabic media, rallied Palestinians around resistance, boosting West Bank popularity and framing the war as a "genocidal" Israeli failure.

foreignaffairs.com

With over 68,000 Gazan deaths and 90% displacement by October 2025, global protests and UN reports on famine have isolated Israel, turning Hamas's October 7 atrocities into a rallying cry for broader solidarity.

britannica.com

Ceasefire Leverage & Hostage Gambit: Through Qatari-mediated deals, Hamas secured prisoner swaps (over 1,000 released) and forced phased truces, including the January 2025 exchange and October 2025 framework—without full disarmament.

en.wikipedia.org

Recent violations, like partial hostage remains returned, highlight how Hamas uses captives as "leverage," stalling Israel's objectives while portraying concessions as defeats.

timesofisrael.com

Israel's Pyrrhic Gains & Global Fallout: Israel's tactical successes—killing leaders like Sinwar and Deif—failed to achieve "total victory," as defined by dismantling Hamas's rule.

npr.org

Economic strain, domestic dissent, and ICC warrants have weakened Netanyahu, while Hamas's adaptability (e.g., deputy-led units) ensures resurgence, echoing LTTE resilience but with political edge.

irregularwarfare.org

Why Listen/Watch?
Two years into the Gaza war, mainstream narratives celebrate Israel's military edge, but this episode exposes the asymmetric truth: Hamas didn't need to conquer territory to "win" hearts, minds, and headlines. Backed by 2025 data from INSS and ACLED, we challenge the echo chamber on who truly controls Gaza's future. Essential for geopolitics buffs, activists, and anyone questioning endless wars.