The United States designated branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon and the leader of the branch in Lebanon as terrorist entities due to their support for Hamas, reflecting the administration’s dissatisfaction with the Islamist agenda promoted by the Muslim Brotherhood in the United States in particular and in the West in general. In ITIC assessment, the designation will have little impact on the continuation of Muslim Brotherhood activity, mainly in Western countries. Read more...
The Palestinian ambassador in Tehran said that Tehran has provided Palestine with unconditional moral and political support; An Iranian researcher claimed on a television program that Israel is destined to be destroyed as a political entity prior to the reappearance of the Twelfth Shiite Imam (the Mahdi); Iran’s embassy in Lebanon strongly condemned the IDF strikes in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley, claiming they strengthen the Lebanese people’s determination to “resist”; Reports indicated that Iran’s Supreme Leader welcomed the nomination of Nouri al‑Maliki for the formation of the new government in Baghdad. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson claimed that Tehran does not interfere in Iraq’s internal political affairs; The secretary-general of the Iraqi Harakat al‑Nujaba movement opposed efforts to disarm the pro‑Iranian militias, claiming that the “resistance’s weapons are ideological and disciplined”; The Houthis and the pro‑Iranian militias in Iraq escalated their threats to strike American and Israeli targets in the event of an attack against Iran. Read more...
Israeli security forces located the body of the last murdered Israeli hostage held in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Hamas claimed the return of the body showed the movement's "commitment to implementing the ceasefire agreement" and called for pressure to be exerted on Israel to stop its "violations" and move on to the second phase.
IDF forces continued operations within the Yellow Line of the Gaza Strip, locating and destroying terrorist facilities and weapons, including an attack tunnel, and eliminating terrorists who tried to attack soldiers; Despite the establishment of the Palestinian Technocrat Committee to run the Gaza Strip, Hamas continues its civilian and security governance and pursues members of militias supported by Israel; The terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip condemned the invitation to include the Israeli Prime Minister in the American Peace Council; Hamas denied the report that an agreement had been reached with the United States government to hand over weapons and tunnel maps in exchange for continuing to operate as a political party; however, the movement's spokesman claimed the weapons would not be an obstacle to reconstruction; In the assessment of the Palestinian Authority prime minister, the Authority will gain full control of the Gaza Strip in about two years; The United States Treasury Department imposed sanctions on a senior Hamas activist in Britain and on "charitable" associations which aided Hamas' military wing. A Lebanese man was arrested in Germany on suspicion of belonging to a Hamas network planning to attack Israeli and Jewish targets in Europe; The Palestinian Authority chairman met with the Russian president in Moscow. The Palestinian Authority prime minister participated in the World Economic Forum in Davos and met with foreign dignitaries. Read more...
The military wings of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) have cooperated closely in wars and rounds of fighting against Israel, including during the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre and the subsequent war in the Gaza Strip, and together they operated a joint operations room with the other terrorist organizations in the Strip; Despite the cooperation, in several instances the two movements have disagreed, mainly due to PIJ's independent rocket fire, which led to short rounds of fighting against Israel, contrary to the "controlled escalation" policy which Hamas tried to promote while making secret preparations for the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre. Hamas documents brought back by the IDF from the Gaza Strip indicated that Hamas was displeased by the PIJ's independent conduct; The documents also confirmed that many of the rockets fired at Israel by the PIJ fell inside the Gaza Strip, killing civilians and causing damage, which was also a serious problem for Hamas; In an attempt to reduce the PIJ's "rogue" actions, Hamas tried to impose its will on the PIJ and even subjugate the organization to its direct control. The documents included information regarding problems the PIJ caused the "resistance," including immoral behavior and intelligence infiltration, and measures to ensure that the PIJ would act in accordance with Hamas' interests at the political and military levels. The documents reveal a pragmatic and interest-based relationship between Hamas and the PIJ. Hamas views the PIJ as undisciplined and in need of constant control and supervision, while the PIJ seeks to gain public support by being more active against Israel. Although it is not known whether Hamas succeeded in fully implementing its plans to take over the PIJ, the war in the Gaza Strip showed that the two movements were able to overcome their differences and cooperate in dealing with Israel, including the deals to release the hostages. In ITIC’s assessment, although Hamas will ostensibly relinquish political control in the Gaza Strip as part of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, both organizations can be expected to refuse to disarm and continue to attack Israeli security forces and civilians in accordance with the vision of a jihad war until the "annihilation of Israel." However, if Hamas is pragmatic, in all probability the conflict between the two movements will resume and intensify, publicly as well. Read more...
On January 14, 2026, Steve Witkoff, the American special envoy, announced the beginning of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. Following that, the establishment of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza was announced, a Palestinian technocratic body intended to manage day-to-day affairs in the Strip in accordance with the American 20-point plan; Most of the committee's 12 members, headed by Dr. Ali Shaath, are affiliated with Fatah and the Palestinian Authority (PA), and some of them served in PA governments and public institutions. Committee members include Sami Nisman, a former official in Palestinian General Intelligence who was sentenced to imprisonment by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and Hana Tarazi, the only woman on the committee and a Christian lawyer specializing in Islamic law; The members of the committee are entrusted with establishing the Gazans' security, restoring essential services and fostering a society based on peace, democracy and justice. Committee chairman Shaath said its top priorities included providing shelter for residents and clearing rubble, and the cancellation of fees and taxes for Gazans and businesses in the Strip had already been ordered; Hamas claimed it was transferring governing authorities to the committee, while the PA noted the need to link institutions in the Gaza Strip with Judea and Samaria; In ITIC assessment, despite the committee's genuine desire to begin its operations, in all probability it will encounter difficulties in translating its vision into reality. First, Israel will prevent them from entering the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Crossing as long as the issue of the last murdered Israeli hostage is unresolved, forcing committee members to operate from Egypt. In addition, the degree of freedom of movement the committee will receive remains unclear, particularly in areas where Israel maintains security control. Moreover, despite Hamas' alleged willingness to transfer governance to the committee, it will have to rely on tens of thousands of employees who remain loyal to Hamas after nearly two decades of absolute Hamas control in the Strip. In such a situation, the committee will at best be able to carry out limited assistance and reconstruction activities, but most likely not to resolve core issues of control, security and demilitarization. Read more...
The president of the United States announced the launch of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and presented the bodies that will oversee implementation of the agreement and rehabilitation of the Strip, among them representatives of Qatar and Turkey; Dr. Ali Shaath, former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority government, was appointed to head the committee of technocrats which will manage the Gaza Strip on a day-to-day basis and stated that the goal was "to support the Gazans and wipe away the children's tears."; Hamas claimed it was willing to transfer management of the Strip to the committee, but remained adamantly opposed to the demand to disarm it and the other terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip; IDF forces continued operating within the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip, located and destroyed terrorist facilities and weapons, and eliminated terrorists who attempted to attack the forces. After exchanges of fire with a terrorist cell in Rafah, prominent terrorist operatives from Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad were attacked; Hamas security forces in the Strip accused the Palestinian Authority of supporting "collaborator gangs" operating in areas under Israeli control; Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activity throughout Judea and Samaria and launched a wide-scale operation in southern Hebron. Read more...
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