Iran

Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (February 4 – 11 , 2025)

Hamas released three Israeli hostages in exchange for 183 Palestinian prisoners and IDF forces withdrew from the Netzarim Corridor. Hamas postponed the next scheduled hostage release on February 15, 2025, claiming Israel was not implementing the humanitarian clauses of the agreement and calling on mediators to pressure Israel; Hamas continued to demonstrate security and civilian governance, recruiting thousands of new operatives to its military wing and resuming tax collection; Fatah demanded that Hamas relinquish control of Gaza "the day after" in favor of a committee subordinate to the PA and the PLO. Hamas opposed the move, citing a lack of national consensus; A senior Hamas delegation visited Iran and met with regime officials to express gratitude for their support during the war; Israeli security forces continued the extensive counterterrorism operation in northern Samaria and expanded it to the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm; PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas cancelled legal provisions related to payments to the families of prisoners, shaheeds and the wounded. Hamas condemned the decision. Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah Lebanon and (February 3 – 10, 2025)

IDF forces continued operations to counter Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire, especially the organization's attempts to smuggle weapons from Syria. The Lebanese army continued to deploy in the towns and villages evacuated by the IDF, including for the first time villages in the eastern sector of south Lebanon; Hezbollah called on the government to increase pressure to ensure the completion of the Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon by the target date of February 18, 2025; The American administration's envoy to Lebanon, Morgan Ortagus, met with senior government officials in Beirut and assured them that Israel would complete its withdrawal in accordance with the ceasefire agreement. Hezbollah condemned her remarks that the organization had been defeated and that its entry into the new government should be prevented; According to Hezbollah, Nasrallah’s funeral on February 23, 2025 will serve as a referendum proving the people's loyalty to the "resistance"; Prime minister-designate Nawaf Salam announced the formation of the new Lebanese government, which includes two ministers affiliated with Hezbollah; The Lebanese army reinforced its forces along the Lebanon-Syria border after clashes between the security forces of the new Syrian regime and clans affiliated with Hezbollah. Read more...

The issue of emigration from the Gaza Strip in light of President Trump’s proposal

On January 25, 2025, after the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip went into effect, U.S, President Trump proposed the temporary or permanent relocation of all Gazans in light of the extensive destruction and to facilitate reconstruction. The proposal sparked condemnations from the Palestinians, Iran and Arab states, which accused it of being a "forced displacement" in violation of international law; The proposal reignited the issue of emigration from the Gaza Strip in general and of young people in particular, known even before the Gaza Strip War. Unofficial data indicated that approximately 300,000 young people had left the Strip since Hamas took control in 2007, primarily due to the economic situation and lack of hope for the future; The Hamas leadership sought to downplay emigration, calling any reference to it a Palestinian Authority smear campaign, but a document found by the IDF in Gaza written by the Khan Yunis Brigade of Hamas' military wing indicated concerns over the departure of young people, who constituted a significant part of the movement’s fighting force; In ITIC assessment, the Palestinians and Arab states will continue to present a united front against the plan in an attempt to eliminate it in its early stages. However, even if the plan is not implemented, the opening of the Rafah Crossing and others at the end of the war could lead to a significant wave of emigration from Gaza because of the widespread destruction and uncertainty about the future. Such a scenario would pose a significant challenge to Hamas, which would do everything in its power to prevent the emigration of young people, which could weaken its political and military stranglehold on the Gazan public. Read more...

Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (January 29 – February 5, 2025)

Senior Iranian officials have reiterated their emphasis on the “Palestinian victory” achieved following the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip; Iran and the militias loyal to it issued statements of mourning following Hamas’ announcement of the death of the head of its military wing, Mohammed al-Deif; The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman dismissed Israel’s claims that Iranian diplomats are transferring tens of millions of dollars to Hezbollah in suitcases via flights landing at Beirut airport; Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei authorized Hezbollah secretary-general Naim Qassem as his religious representative in Lebanon; The IRGC commander admitted that Iran’s enemies had achieved certain results in Syria but declared that the situation would not remain the same; Sources in the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq denied that talks were underway for a deal that would lead to the release of the kidnapped Israeli researcher, Elizabeth Tsurkov. Read more...

Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (January 28 – February 4 , 2025)

The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip continues: Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) released a female soldier and ten civilian hostages, five Israelis and five Thais, in exchange for 293 Palestinian prisoners, some of whom were serving life sentences; some were deported abroad. The Rafah Crossing was opened for the exit of patients and wounded; the return of displaced persons to northern Gaza continued; Hamas accused Israel of "humanitarian violations" of the ceasefire, claiming the movement was ready to begin negotiations on the second phase of the agreement. Hamas confirmed the deaths of Muhammad Deif, head of the military wing, his deputy and other senior terrorist operatives. The Palestinian Authority (PA) worked to recruit international aid for the Gaza Strip; Two IDF soldiers were shot to death in the Jordan Valley, the terrorist was killed. Israeli security forces continued a large-scale counterterrorism operation in northern Samaria, eliminating more than 50 terrorist operatives; Nine countries announced the establishment of a group to assist the Palestinians in legal warfare against Israel. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas welcomed the initiative. Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah Lebanon and (January 27 – February 3 , 2025)

Encouraged by Hezbollah, Lebanese residents escorted by Lebanese army forces continued attempts to return to villages in south Lebanon. Hezbollah congratulated the residents, calling their attempted return a "victory"; IDF forces took action against Hezbollah's ceasefire violations and attacked vehicles and facilities, including in the Beqa'a Valley and near the Syrian border. Lebanese army forces continued gradually deploying into the areas vacated by the IDF. The army also reportedly took control of a strategic Hezbollah underground facility; Hezbollah secretary general Na'im Qassem stated the organization's opposition to extending the ceasefire until February 18, 2025. He revealed that Hezbollah was investigating the killings of the organization’s leaders to learn from them; Qassem said the funeral of former secretary general Hassan Nasrallah and his designated successor Hashem Safi al-Din would take place on February 23, 2025; According to reports, Israel complained that Iranian diplomats and Turkish citizens were transferring cash to Hezbollah on flights to Beirut. Read more...

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