The most important lesson from October 6th and 7th: Liberating Jerusalem starts with liberating Cairo

Statement by the Revolutionary Socialists

Nations never free themselves from the grip of imperialism without paying a heavy price—sacrifices made in battles, wars, uprisings, and protests, just like we saw in Vietnam, Algeria, and Iraq. Even then, the toll of lives lost and the destruction of entire communities is staggering.
These days, we mark the anniversaries of two defining moments of defiance and resistance: October 6, 1973, and October 7, 2023.

The 1973 war was a powerful expression of the Egyptian people’s determination to reclaim their stolen land after six long years of fighting a war of attrition.
On that historic day, thousands of Egyptian farmers, workers, and professionals marched forward with unwavering determination, ready to face death. They crossed the Bar Lev Line, shattering the myth of the invincible army. Had it not been for the betrayal of the political leadership, the war’s military and political outcomes could have been drastically different.

The people of Suez also showed extraordinary courage. Their resistance is still remembered, as they defended the city against Israeli forces that entered through the Deversoir breach, fighting back bravely with only light weapons against the tanks of the invaders.

In short, after the disastrous defeat of the Nasserist regime in 1967, the Egyptian bourgeoisie sought to calm the rising tide of public anger that had surged since the protests of 1968 by moving Egyptian forces toward negotiating with Zionism and American imperialism. This was especially true after Sadat famously said that 99% of the cards were in America’s hands.

Still, October 6 remains a day of resilience and defiance in Egypt’s history, proving that the spirit of challenging Zionist arrogance has always been alive. However, the constraints of the bourgeois regimes in power often limit it.

Fast forward 51 years, and the struggle continues in a new chapter against the same foes. On October 7, 2023, the Islamic resistance launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, surprising everyone. They breached the enemy’s defenses, capturing and killing thousands.

The Palestinian attacks on October 7th were a game-changer in global politics. Since then, we’ve seen a year marked by genocide and fierce resistance, which has not only isolated Israel but also exposed the hypocrisy of the West and sparked a massive solidarity movement around the world.
Early that morning, the Palestinian resistance broke through the barriers of Gaza, reclaiming for a short time the lands seized by Zionist settlers 75 years ago during the 1948 Nakba—the wave of ethnic cleansing that led to Israel’s creation.

Israel, which had always appeared so powerful, was caught off guard and humiliated. Its military and intelligence agencies were stunned by the attack, and their response was sluggish.
This blow shook the entire Zionist ruling class to its core. Supported by the United States and Britain, Israel then unleashed a brutal onslaught, using all the deadly weapons at its disposal provided by the West.

The result was a genocidal campaign against the Palestinians. To date, the war has killed at least 41,000 people and injured nearly 100,000 others in Gaza alone.

And yet, despite a year of relentless attacks, the occupying forces haven’t managed to defeat the Palestinian resistance or free their captives. Amid the ruins, the fighters and their vast network of supporters continue to stand firm with remarkable courage.

Even after waves of heavy bombardments, the Palestinian resistance fighters emerge from their tunnels to strike at Israel’s supposedly invincible forces and armored vehicles.

For perhaps the first time since the Nakba, the Zionist enemy is facing resistance on all sides—from Gaza, southern Lebanon, the West Bank, Yemen, and Iraq. Despite this determined resistance on multiple fronts and the incredible resilience of the Palestinian people for an entire year, suffering under relentless fire, international and regional complicity has turned a blind eye. The lack of widespread popular support from the region’s people has become the weakest link in the Arab-Zionist struggle, particularly in Egypt. Where once the region’s masses would rise in solidarity with resistance movements, their silence now represents not only a lack of support but even indirect aid to Zionism, facilitated by oppressive regimes that clamp down on dissent.

The brave popular resistance in Palestine and Lebanon is remarkable, and we must back it in every possible way. It can hold its ground and slow down the Zionist agenda in the Middle East. But without broader support, it cannot single-handedly liberate Jerusalem or topple Zionism, the very tool of imperialism in our region.

The biggest takeaway from October 6th and 7th is clear: the road to liberating Palestine begins with liberating the surrounding countries, especially Egypt, from their pro-Zionist, pro-imperialist regimes. These regimes have done nothing to aid the resistance over the past year. Instead, they have sided with the Zionists, silencing their people and arresting pro-Palestinian activists, as the Sisi regime has done since last October.

If we are to free Jerusalem, we must first free Egypt.