Libya

The future of Hamas’ weapons and its efforts to rebuild the military wing

The American Twenty-Point Plan, which served as the basis for the ceasefire agreement to end the Gaza Strip War, explicitly stipulates that during the second phase Hamas and the other armed terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip will be required to disarm and the Strip will become a demilitarized zone; Senior Hamas figures made it clear that although they were committed to maintaining the ceasefire, they were not willing disarm the "resistance" until the establishment of a Palestinian state. They also reiterated that it was "a complex issue that had to be deliberated' within "a broader framework of general Palestinian understandings about the future of the Strip."; As after the previous rounds of fighting, and despite the demand that it disarm, Hamas quickly took advantage of the ceasefire to rebuild its military wing by collecting unexploded ordnance and ammunition left in the Gaza Strip after two years of war. In all probability, to restore its arsenal Hamas will use weapons smuggled across the Egyptian border via civilian drones and the entry of raw materials and dual-purpose equipment intended for the reconstruction of the Strip to manufacture weapons; In ITIC assessment, Hamas' unwillingness to relinquish the weapons of the "resistance" reflect its determination to continue the armed "struggle" against Israel under the pretext of a "legal and religious [sic] right to fight the occupation." Therefore, until a new, temporary administration is established in the Gaza Strip, Hamas can be expected to take advantage of the interim period to rebuild its military capabilities, with Iran also expected to continue backing Hamas by providing financial aid, supplying weapons, and transferring technical and other knowledge and training. The involvement of Qatar and Turkey, Hamas' allies, in shaping the "day after" in Gaza can be expected to obstruct the establishment of a temporary administration which could lead genuine, sincere efforts to limit Hamas' activity and disarm it. However, even if the temporary administration demonstrates determination, Hamas will continue to use its proven experience to adapt its military buildup processes to the changing situations on the ground. Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (June 10 – 17 , 2025)

IDF forces continued extensive aerial and ground attacks on targets belonging to Hamas and the other terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian reports indicated a decrease in the intensity of the attacks and a withdrawal of forces from certain areas. Three IDF soldiers were killed in combat in the southern Gaza Strip; No progress has been made in the negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the hostages. Hamas denied Iranian involvement in the negotiations. A senior Hamas figure said the Israel-Iran War might lead to a temporary ceasefire in the Strip; The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation continued distributing food packages, for the first time operating all four of its distribution points in one day while facing Hamas accusations of deliberate gunfire on civilians who had come to the distribution centers; Hamas security forces in the Gaza Strip continued taking action against members of the armed militia of Yasser Abu Shabab, which receives support from Israel. Documents were published revealing Hamas' method for exploiting humanitarian aid entering the Strip; The land convoy with 1,500 volunteers which set out from Tunisia to the Rafah Crossing was forced to turn back after authorities in eastern Libya blocked its path and Egyptian authorities expelled foreign activists. Activists in Malaysia announced their intention to send a thousand vessels to "break the siege" on the Gaza Strip; IDF forces killed a terrorist who carried out a shooting at a checkpoint near the settlement of Hermesh in western Samaria. Israeli security forces continued extensive counterterrorism activity in Judea and Samaria; The Two-State Solution conference planned to be held in New York under the sponsorship of France and Saudi Arabia was postponed because of the Israel-Iran War. Read more...

Turkey as a Center for Hamas Activity

Turkey, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is one of Hamas' most important strategic allies. Turkey hosts senior Hamas figures, and provides political, diplomatic and propaganda support, as well as economic and humanitarian assistance, including during the Gaza war; Hamas has established one of its most important overseas centers in Turkey, primarily operated by prisoners released in the Gilad Shalit exchange deal of 2011. It uses Turkey to plan terrorist attacks and transfer funds to finance terrorist activities inside Israel, in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip, and to raise and launder money in support of its terrorist operations, including the October 7, 2023, attack and massacre; Hamas documents seized by IDF forces in the Gaza Strip during the Gaza Strip War showed the relationship between Hamas and Turkey, including how Hamas used Turkey for terrorist activities against Israel; In ITIC assessment, given the Hamas operational infrastructure in Turkey, its deep involvement in terrorism and Turkey’s hostility toward Israel, Hamas will seek to strengthen and expand its ties with Turkey. The deportation of terrorists, particularly senior terrorists from Israel, to Turkey in particular, is likely to reinforce the Hamas operational base in Turkey and facilitate the rebuilding of its military wing and the return of released prisoners to terrorist activities. A Turkish aegis would strengthen the "external" Hamas leadership and increase Hamas terrorist activity outside Israel. Given Turkey’s location and its strained relations with Israel, Israeli security forces would face significant challenges in effectively countering Hamas infrastructure and activities in Turkey. Read more...

Wave of orchestrated ISIS terrorist retaliation attacks around the globe: overview and assessment

During four days, between April 8 and 11, 2019, the various ISIS provinces in Syria, Iraq and around the globe carried out a wave attacks in retaliation for the blow ISIS suffered in Syria. ISIS reported that eight of its provinces carried out more than 92 attacks in more than 80 areas. The attacks were accompanied by a media campaign and claims of responsibility entitled "Battle of vengeance for blessed [Province of] Sham" [Syria]. Read more...

Spotlight on Global Jihad (19-27 September 2017)

The Islamic State is disintegrating in Syria and Iraq. Its territorial areas of control Iraq are falling to the two anti-ISIS coalition forces one after another, although in some important strongholds ISIS operatives continue stubborn fighting. Read more...

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2025 2019 2017

Libya

Libya is a country in North Africa bordering on the Mediterranean Sea, Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Algeria and Tunisia. The capital of Libya is Tripoli.

In early May 2014, a violent conflict arose in Libya between Islamic groups and the forces of Libya’s elected parliament. As a result, Libya was broken up into its three historical districts. After the execution of Muammar Qaddafi, a government and security vacuum was created in Libya, which was subsequently filled by national and Islamic organizations, tribal, local, and regional militias, and jihadi organizations.

ISIS’s branch in Libya took full advantage of the vacuum that was created, the absence of a functioning government and the lack of international presence. During 2015, ISIS managed to build an outpost around the city of Sirte, in central Libya, where it established a territorial control zone. From this region, ISIS strove to take control of all of Libya and turn it into a springboard for terrorism and subversion towards the countries of North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and southern Europe. The territorial base that ISIS managed to build in Libya is the only one of its kind outside the borders of Iraq and Syria.

On December 5, 2016, after around seven months of fighting with the support of the US forces, the takeover of Sirte, ISIS’s so-called capital in Libya (and in North Africa as a whole) was completed, and the end of the military operations in Sirte and its liberation from the hands of ISIS was officially announced. However, pockets of the presence of ISIS remained in Libya. In addition, a branch of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) operates in Libya.