ISIS

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (December 2-9, 2025)

The IDF continued operating within the areas of the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip and eliminated terrorists who posed a threat. Five soldiers were wounded during attacks on underground facilities in Rafah; The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) announced the closure of the "Israeli prisoners file" after the return of the body of a Thai civilian who was murdered and abducted in the October 7, 2023 attack. Hamas' military wing continued searching for the body of the last murdered Israeli hostage remaining in the Gaza Strip; Yasser Abu Shabab, leader of the largest militia opposing Hamas and supported by Israel, was killed in a clan dispute. Hamas claimed that several "collaborators" turned themselves in during a window of time for "repentance," however militia leaders announced that they would continue the combat against Hamas; Hamas' leader abroad, Khaled Mashal, called for the "weapons of the resistance" to be "protected" and refused to accept any form of guardianship over the Gaza Strip, while other Hamas figures attempted to present pragmatic positions regarding the future of the movement's weapons. Hamas reportedly proposed a ten-year hudna; A terrorist was killed carrying out a ramming attack targeting IDF forces in Hebron in which an IDF soldier was superficially injured. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activity in Judea and Samaria and completed their extensive operation in northern Samaria. A terrorist network in Tulkarm which had been preparing rockets was exposed. Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism – November 2025

During November 2025 the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip remained in force, bringing a halt to Houthi attacks as well. Counterterrorism activity in Judea and Samaria continued. The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah remained in force, despite IDF attacks on Hezbollah targets; The Gaza Strip: The ceasefire that went into effect on October 10, 2025, continued. IDF forces attacked suspicious Gazans who crossed the Yellow Line and eliminated terrorist operatives in response to ceasefire violations. The bodies of nine murdered hostages were returned to Israel, while the body of one murdered hostage remained in the Gaza Strip. No rockets were fired at Israeli territory; Israel, Judea and Samaria: There was one terrorist attack in which an Israeli civilian was killed. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activity throughout Judea and Samaria and launched a new large-scale operation in northern Samaria. Wanted suspects and terrorist operatives planning attacks were eliminated, and weapons were located. A terrorist network was exposed which transferred weapons under the direction of an Arab-Israeli Hamas operative operating from Turkey; Lebanon: The IDF continued attacks on Hezbollah's attempts to violate the ceasefire which went into effect on November 27, 2024, and on the organization's efforts to reconstruct itself and replenish its arsenal. More than 20 Hezbollah operatives were eliminated, including a military commander and several of his aides in an attack in Beirut, and military facilities were attacked in south Lebanon and the Beqa'a Valley. Thirteen Hamas terrorist operatives were eliminated in an attack on the Ein al-Hilweh refugee camp; Syria: IDF forces continued to operate in southern Syria; six IDF soldiers were wounded in exchanges of fire during an operation to detain wanted al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya terrorist operatives; The Houthis: The Houthis have not attacked Israel or ships since the start of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip; Terrorism abroad: Iranian attempts to assassinate Israel's ambassador to Mexico and attack Israeli targets in Africa were foiled. A Hamas terrorist network in central Europe was exposed, involving the son of a senior Hamas figure.a Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (November 11-18, 2025)

IDF forces continued operating within the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip to destroy tunnels and terrorist facilities, and eliminated terrorists who posed a threat. According to claims, in the month since beginning of the ceasefire, IDF forces destroyed more than 1,500 structures in the Gaza Strip; Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad returned the body of an Israeli civilian who had been murdered and kidnapped in the October 7, 2023 attack. The bodies of three murdered hostages remain in the Gaza Strip; Hamas continued to advance its civil and security governance in the Strip; Israel opened the Zikim Crossing for the entry of aid trucks, while the American Coordination Center reported that the daily average number of aid trucks had increased from 600 to 800 and that more than 40 countries and organizations were participating in the aid activity. Hamas and its media exploited the rain in the Gaza Strip to promote a "Gaza is sinking" narrative, while blaming Israel for the situation and calling on the international community to send assistance to the Strip; The UN Security Council passed a resolution adopting the American plan for a ceasefire and the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip. Hamas condemned the resolution and warned that any international force operating in the Strip would be considered fighting alongside "the occupation." The Palestinian Authority (PA) welcomed the resolution and continued preparations to reassume responsibility for the Strip; The organizers of the Global Sunud (Perseverance) Flotilla, prevented from reaching the Gaza Strip by Israel in early October 2025, announced that they would dispatch a larger flotilla to the Gaza Strip in the coming months; Israeli security forces continued extensive activity in Judea and Samaria, eliminating terrorists and terrorist cells attempting to attack security personnel and civilians. Clashes continued between Jewish settlers and Palestinian residents during the olive harvest season; The chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, announced that a delegation would arrive for talks at UNESCO for adapting the Palestinian curricula to international standards while preserving "the core of the Palestinian national consciousness." Read more...

Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (November 1—12, 2025)

The Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the extensive attacks carried out by the IDF in Lebanon. Iranian media warned of Israel’s intention to conduct a large-scale operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon and threatened a harsh response from Hezbollah and the “resistance front” in case of such action; The US Department of Treasury has stated that Iran has transferred one billion dollars to Hezbollah since the beginning of 2025. The Iranian Embassy in Beirut rejected the American claims; Iranian Majles Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf called for a firm stance against Israel and for exacting a price from countries seeking to normalize relations with it. The Houthi leader accused the United States of being complicit in the Israeli “aggression” in the Gaza Strip even after the ceasefire. The Houthi chief of staff sent a letter to Hamas’ military wing, praising its victory over “the strongest empires.”; Iran has reportedly increased the supply of weapons, including missiles, to pro-Iranian Shiite militias in Iraq, in preparation for the possibility of a resumption of hostilities between Iran and Israel. It was also reported that the IRGC encourages major Shiite militias to integrate into Iraq’s political system while at the same time supporting smaller militias so they can continue military activity within the “resistance front.”; Mexican security forces thwarted an IRGC attempt to assassinate Israel’s ambassador to Mexico. Iran strongly denied the report; Senior Houthi officials warned they are preparing for a new round of fighting against Israel and confirmed they have suspended their attacks against Israel and against vessels in view of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip; The Houthis claimed to have uncovered an espionage network operating on behalf of a “joint operations room” of Israel, the United States, and Saudi Arabia, which had been collecting intelligence on Houthi military and security infrastructure as well as senior government officials. Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (August 25– September 1, 2025)

IDF forces continued extensive aerial and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip, focusing on the eastern neighborhoods of Gaza City in preparation for the expected takeover of the city, and eliminated the spokesperson of the Hamas military wing and the head of ISIS's "Palestine" district. The bodies of two Israeli civilians kidnapped in the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre were recovered. An IDF soldier was killed in Khan Yunis; Hamas rejected the statement of American mediator Steve Witkoff that the movement was responsible for placing obstacles in the path of the negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages, and claimed that Israel was ignoring the proposal and carrying out a "massacre" [sic] in Gaza; The IDF announced the creation of two new centers to facilitate the distribution of food to Gazans in the southern part of the Strip; Dozens of vessels with hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists set sail from Barcelona as part of an international flotilla intended to "lift the blockade" on the Gaza Strip; A senior Hamas figure rejected the American plan to evacuate Gazans and turn the Strip into an economic and tourist zone under American administration for ten years. Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas said he would agree to an Arab or international partnership for administering the Strip alongside the PA; The American administration announced that it would not issue entry visas to Mahmoud Abbas and senior PA and PLO figures ahead of the UN General Assembly session in September 2025. Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (July 15 – 22, 2025)

IDF forces continued extensive air and ground attacks on terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip and launched a ground operation in Deir al-Balah for the first time since the beginning of the war. Hamas and other terrorist organization commanders involved in the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre were eliminated. Two IDF soldiers were killed in the fighting; Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas continued without a resolution. Hamas said they were reviewing the new maps delivered from Israel and continued to claim they agreed to all proposals and that Israel was the party delaying progress; Hamas continued to promote the "hunger narrative" despite the ongoing entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Humanitarian Aid Fund accused Hamas of responsibility for the deaths of about 20 people in a riot that broke out after armed men were seen among civilians waiting near an aid distribution point; The ship Handala sailed from Italy en route to the Gaza Strip with 20 pro-Palestinian activists aboard, after claims of a "deliberate sabotage attempt."; A new civilian initiative in the Gaza Strip called for the establishment of a civilian-executive body led by Egypt to manage daily life until Palestinian unity was achieved and the transfer of negotiation management with Israel to the PLO and the Palestinian Authority; Israeli security forces continued extensive counterterrorism activity in Judea and Samaria and detained terrorists who were planning attacks; Senior Palestinian Authority officials, led by Mahmoud Abbas, escalated their rhetoric against Israel on the international stage, accusing it of "mass killings" in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria. Mahmoud Abbas announced new elections for the Palestinian National Council by the end of 2025. Hamas accused the move of being unilateral and contrary to prior understandings. Read more...

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ISIS

ISIS is a relatively new Salafist-jihadi Islamic terrorist organization. ISIS is part of a radical Islamist movement that was established around a decade ago as a branch of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. During the course of the fighting against the United States, ISIS established itself in the Sunni areas of western Iraq. During the civil war in Syria, ISIS expanded to Syrian territory as well. In June 2014, ISIS recorded impressive achievements, culminating in the takeover of the city of Mosul, Iraq, the takeover of Al-Raqqah in Syria, and the announcement of the establishment of the Caliphate State (the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria).

ISIS has branches (provinces) in the Sinai Peninsula, Libya, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, West Africa and elsewhere. These branches are inspired by ISIS. ISIS carries out terrorist attacks against the forces fighting against it, as well as terrorist attacks outside Syria and Iraq. In addition to fighting against its many enemies in Iraq and Syria, ISIS carries out terrorist attacks abroad, either directly by its operatives, or by instigating its supporters to carry out terrorist attacks in the countries where they live (“ISIS-inspired attacks”). ISIS has carried out several noteworthy attacks in cities in Western Europe, Turkey, the Sinai Peninsula, and Russia. In September 2014, the United States announced the establishment of a coalition for the war against ISIS. The US-led Coalition forces assist the Iraqi army and local forces in Syria through air support, sending experts, and providing weapons and training. In the wake of the war against ISIS, the organization has begun to lose its bases in Syria and Iraq, including the large cities of Mosul and Al-Raqqah.

ISIS places considerable emphasis on propaganda and has established extensive and professional media outlets that use Western tools and images to disseminate its messages. ISIS’s messages are disseminated around the world, trying to offer new meaning to isolated, alienated young Muslims.