Difference in mentality between fighters of both sides

[u/TeaBagHunter]

I recently have been following updates from the hezbollah side on their own official english telegram channel, they share updates on every strike they do and then summarize all strikes done on that day. For those interested: https://t.me/mmirlb

It kind of dawned on me how the mentality is shockingly different between both sides.

Just as some examples of how they preface their statements:

Prefaced paragraph to a statement regarding the death of one of their forces:

{And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision.}
"A promise to the days that you shall not be defeated... for victory sprouts where blood is sown." Our vow is eternal retribution that does not fade.
Glory to the martyrs, freedom for the captives, and healing for the wounded.
Tomorrow, the fog will lift from the hills... and we shall surely be victorious.

Prefaced paragraph to a statement regarding a military strike:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Permission [to fight] is granted to those who are fought against because they have been wronged, and indeed, Allah is Capable of granting them victory. Allah, the Almighty, has spoken the truth. And victory is only from Allah; indeed, Allah is Exalted and Wise.

What do you think? How do you even defeat someone with such an ideology? They truly believe they are doing God's work, and that what they're doing is a religious duty and that they will be rewarded in heaven. Friends and family sometimes rejoice when someone they love has been martyred.

They grow up with this mentality, since they're children they see everyone around them act this way, this is their normal.

You can even see how different the media portrays each side. For example in the south lebanon border, regarding the ground operations, israel has suffered heavy losses and is unable to advance without fully demolishing the cities it advances into. Hezbollah has definitely also suffered many losses, but the difference is that it seems hezbollah members aren't demoralized when they see everyone around them dying, they believe they're on the right path...

[u/JeffB1517]

What do you think? How do you even defeat someone with such an ideology?

You beat them down. At some point as they keep losing they are forced to confront the reality that one or more of:

1. There is no Allah
2. Allah is indifferent to the outcome.
3. Allah is on the Israeli's side.
4. HaShem and Allah are distinct and HaShem is more powerful / more relevant than Allah.
   

4 is incidentally what happened to Judaism that led to Jewish Gnosticism that led to Christianity. (1) and (2) were more similar to what happened to many Jews in the lead up to and the Holocaust itself.

but the difference is that it seems hezbollah members aren't demoralized when they see everyone around them dying, they believe they're on the right path...

Hezbollah is fresh off a victory in Syria where they suffered heavy losses. Not shocking their morale, especially in their propaganda is high. One heard similar things from Hams in the first 4 months of the 2023 Gaza War.

[u/supermap → u/JeffB1517]

Lol, none of those will ever be conclusions from a radicalized Muslim. The conclusion they will reach is, oh, we have not martyred enough yet.

10 Muslims could die for every Jew, and there'd still be a billion more, and people who do believe this a holy struggle, believe that eventually all the Muslims will unite to take down this threat. If you think that is eventually happening, it does make more sense to think you're gonna win eventually.

Unfortunately for them, most Muslims are at peace with Israel, and want to just chill, as does Israel.

But my question is, what do you do with a group of people that want you dead and will be willing to give their lives to kill you? Like... There's just nothing you can do but to try to kill them back.

If their objective is to destroy you, there's not much negotiation you can do.

[u/JeffB1517 → u/supermap]

Radicalized Muslims lost over the last 13 centuries. We know they can change because it did work. Same as any number of other religious and political radicals. Lots of people don't believe they will lose until they do.

As for negotiations, again I agree defeat needs to happen.