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News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (December 10 – 17, 2024)

IDF forces continued operating in the northern, central and southern Gaza Strip, and eliminated terrorist operatives hiding in civilian buildings. An IDF officer and soldier were killed in the southern Gaza Strip; Contacts continued in an effort to formulate an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Hamas claimed they had agreed to significant concessions, including demands for a complete cessation of the war and the full withdrawal of IDF forces; Fatah and Hamas exchanged accusations over the deadlock in the establishment of a committee to manage the Gaza Strip after the war; Israel, Judea and Samaria: This past week Palestinian terrorists carried out three attacks; an Israeli teenager was killed. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria. The Palestinian Authority's security forces continued operations against armed terrorists in the Jenin refugee camp. According to claims, the terrorists had pledged allegiance to Iran.
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Hamas and Hezbollah Activities in Europe: Germany as a Test Case

In November 2024, charges filed in Germany against four suspects affiliated with Hamas for operating weapons depots for Hamas in Europe and planning attacks on Israeli, Jewish and Western targets in Germany. In July 2024, the German ministry of the interior ordered the closure of the Islamic Center in Hamburg after evidence was found that for years it had served the interests of Iran and Hezbollah in the country; Both cases provide evidence of the continued presence of Hamas and Hezbollah in Europe in general and Germany in particular, despite efforts by authorities to limit or prevent their activities, especially following the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre in Israel; Germany, like other European countries, has always walked a fine line between counterterrorism, its commitment to absorbing immigrants and the protection of human rights. That was why for years if did not designate Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations or outlaw outlawing them, allowing their organizations and charities to raise funds for terrorist activities which also targeted German; In 2020, Germany ended the EU's arbitrary separation between Hezbollah’s military wing and its so-called political wing, and designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization. A similar move against Hamas was taken only in November 2023, although the movement as a whole had been designated a terrorist organization by the EU since 2014; An October 2024 report issued by Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) warned that in addition to actions by individuals motivated by antisemitism, the escalation in the Middle East also posed a threat to Jewish and Israeli targets because of operational preparations by Iranian or Hezbollah proxies or by Hamas; In ITIC assessment, German law enforcement authorities will continue efforts to prevent Hamas and Hezbollah activities as part of a growing European effort to reduce the risk from Iranian proxies. However, the threat posed by Hamas and Hezbollah can be expected to remain high for Europe in general and for Germany in particular. The arrest of Hamas operatives and the exposure of weapons depots may indicate a change in the movement’s activities in Europe, which until now avoided carrying out attacks abroad and focused on fundraising and promoting its agenda within civilian social organizations. Hezbollah may also activate its network, which in all probability still exists in Germany, to attack Israeli and Jewish targets, either as revenge for the killing of Hassan Nasrallah and senior organization members or as part of a possible Iranian response to the Israeli strike on Iran in October 2024. Hamas and Hezbollah may also exploit the radicalization of Muslim immigrant communities in Europe, as demonstrated by the attack on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam in November 2024, to construct a support base which would help them spread their anti-Israeli and antisemitic agenda and even carry out attacks.
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (July 2 – 9 , 2024)

This past week IDF activity focused on the Shejaiya neighborhood in Gaza City and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. IDF forces began operations in southwest Gaza and attacked Hamas terrorist facilities located in UNRWA school compounds. Four IDF soldiers were killed this week. The Palestinian organizations continued firing rockets at the cities, towns and villages surrounding Gaza; Hamas conveyed its response to the proposal for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages. Senior Hamas figures stated that the movement had shown "flexibility" and accused Israel of trying to sabotage the negotiations; The situation in the Gaza Strip and the treatment of the residents led to criticism of Hamas; Senior Hamas figures held meetings to coordinate with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and with senior figures of the "resistance front" and other Palestinian organizations; Hamas expressed opposition to the presence of foreign forces to administer the Strip; An IDF soldier stabbed to death by an Israeli Arab in a shopping mall in Karmiel. An Israeli civilian was injured in a vehicle ramming attack in Asael and an Israeli civilian was shot and wounded in an attack near Nablus. The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria; Mahmoud Abbas spoke with the new British prime minister and called on him to recognize a Palestinian state.
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The New Palestinian Authority Government

On March 31, 2024, the 19th Palestinian government was sworn in at Mahmoud Abbas' office in Ramallah. It is headed by Dr. Muhammad Mustafa. the government ministers do not belong to any political party. Its platform emphasized that the government regards Judea, Samaria, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip as one political-geographic unit with the PLO as the source of its authority (Wafa, March 28, 2024). The new government is defined as "a government of technocrats" and has almost no known figures with a political past. It has 23 ministers, compared to 26 in the government headed by Muhammad Shtayyeh, and has representation for the Gaza Strip, Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem. Seven of the government ministers are from the Gaza Strip (currently staying in Ramallah), 14 from Judea and Samaria, and two are residents of east Jerusalem. There are four women in the government. Two ministers are Christians and the rest are Muslims. Most of the ministers are in their sixties. The vast majority have advanced degrees from universities abroad. Two of the members of the government, Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa and Ziad Hab al-Reeh, have political experience, but while all the other ministers have an impressive record in civilian and academic fields, they lack political experience. The ITIC has no information about their political positions or their positions regarding Israel and the conflict, since so far they have seldom been interviewed or expressed positions on those issues. However, contrary to Mustafa's statements that the new government is manned by independent technocrats, a detailed examination revealed that at least four of the ministers are unequivocally members of Fatah and in the past ran for positions on behalf of the movement, headed by Interior Minister Ziad Hab al-Reeh. At least two of them were previously detained by Israel.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., February 15, 2024)

During the past day, IDF forces intensified their activities in Khan Yunis. On the morning of February 15, 2024, Palestinian media reported IDF activities in Nasser Hospital. Meanwhile, the forces in the northern and central Gaza Strip operated to eliminate armed terrorist squads remaining in the area and also carried out targeted attacks. The ground forces coordinated attacks with the Israeli Air Force and Navy.According to reports, discussions (hostage deal) continue in Cairo, although at a lower level. They also revealed that "external" Hamas members had not yet received a response from Yahya al-Sinwar regarding the controversial issues. According to reports, Rafah is overcrowded because of the displaced persons arriving in the area. Meanwhile, many residents, fearing an Israeli attack, were reported to have left the city. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for one attack. For the first time since the ceasefire, Hezbollah did not claim responsibility for attacks against Israel, including the barrage of rockets at Safed which killed one soldier and injured eight others. The Israeli Air Force carried out massive attacks on Hezbollah targets, including Radwan force targets. Hezbollah stated that the attacks, in which civilians were also killed, would not go unanswered. IDF forces continued counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria , rendering six lathes for the production of weapons unusable, confiscating equipment from two print shops, confiscating weapons and detaining wanted Palestinians. The chairman of the Palestinian Authority (PA), said the PA, with all its institutions, was ready to begin work and perform its duty as a Palestinian national authority in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria The UN Security Council held another session to discuss the Houthis' attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The families of the Israeli hostages filed a formal complaint against Hamas at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.a
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