1. Home
  2. Topics
  3. The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (December 23-30, 2025)

IDF forces continued operating within the area of the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip and eliminated terrorists who posed a threat; an IDF officer was wounded by an explosive device. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed they did not know the exact location of the body of the last murdered Israeli hostage; Hamas officially reported the deaths of the former head of its military wing, Muhammad al-Sinwar; the former military wing spokesperson, Abu Obeida; and three others, and announced the appointment of a new spokesperson; Hamas continues governing areas under its control in the Gaza Strip: its security forces said they were pursuing Israel's "mercenaries," and the police spokesperson claimed police forces had returned to full activity; According to reports, Hamas will choose a new political bureau head, with Khalil al-Hayya and Khaled Mashal as the leading candidates. Members of the new leadership in the Gaza Strip have reportedly been elected but their identities have not been disclosed; Hamas continued to accuse Israel of delaying the transition to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement and reiterated that the "resistance" would not disarm. Hamas called on the Palestinian Authority to take responsibility for the Gaza Strip; Hamas issued a document to "justify" the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre as part of its propaganda to promote the narrative of the "achievements" of "al-Aqsa Flood."; The authorities in Italy arrested nine Hamas operatives who were engaged in fundraising for Hamas through fictitious associations, including one considered the most senior Hamas operative in the country.
Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (December 16-23, 2025)

IDF forces continued operating in the areas of the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip and eliminated militants who posed a threat. An IDF soldier was wounded by a stray bullet; An initiative of experts on hunger determined that no area in the Gaza Strip was "famine-stricken," but warned that 77% of the population was suffering from food insecurity. The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories accused the report of being biased and based on partial data; Hamas security forces announced the closing of the window for "collaborators" to surrender and threatened to use force against networks of collaborators with Israel; The organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla announced that they would launch a new and larger flotilla to the Gaza Strip in the spring of 2026; A Hamas delegation met with the head of Turkish intelligence to discuss the continuation of negotiations on the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. Representatives of the mediating countries called on all parties to meet their commitments and expressed support for the establishment of a Peace Council; The Palestinian terrorist organizations and the Fatah movement expressed anger with the Palestinian Authority over its suspension of the payments to the families of the shaheeds, the wounded and the prisoners.
Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (December 9-16, 2025)

IDF forces continued operations within the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip and eliminated terrorists who posed a threat. Two IDF soldiers were wounded by an explosive device. A senior member of Hamas' military wing, Ra'ad Sa'ad, one of the planners of the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre, was eliminated, and Hamas threatened retaliation; The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continued to claim that Hamas was holding the body of the last murdered Israeli hostage; Hamas' governing mechanisms in the Gaza Strip claimed that the rainy weather had caused the deaths of 13 civilians, the collapse of buildings and the destruction of thousands of tents; Militias opposed to Hamas claimed responsibility for killing a senior figure in Hamas' security apparatuses in the central Gaza Strip; Hamas continued to promote the "achievements" of the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre. An Amnesty report accused Hamas and the PIJ of committing war crimes during and after the attack, including sexual violence and inhumane detention conditions of hostages; A terrorist was killed after a stabbing attack in Hebron. There were no casualties; The chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, claimed a Palestinian state would be a factor of regional stability.
Read more...

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 25 – December 2, 2025)

IDF forces continued operating within the area of the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip to destroy tunnels and terrorist infrastructure, and eliminated operatives who posed a threat. The forces eliminated and detained Hamas terrorists who tried to flee from the tunnels in Rafah, and among the dead were reportedly the son of a senior Hamas figure and a battalion commander; Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) returned the body of an Israeli civilian who was murdered and abducted in the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre. Two bodies of murdered hostages remain in the Gaza Strip; Hamas claimed that it continued to give negotiations a chance despite the Israeli "violations," even after the Hamas delegation ended the fruitless talks with the mediators in Cairo regarding the implementation of the second stage of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip; Hamas continues security and civil governance in the areas under its control in the Gaza Strip. The Shifa Hospital, which was a center of activity for the Hamas military wing, reopened departments, and studies resumed at the Islamic University in Gaza, one of Hamas' strongholds in the Strip; Hamas is reportedly considering the proposal to become a political party and join the PLO. The movement denied a report that all leadership and command positions had been filled after the elimination of senior officials during the war; This past week there were two terrorist attacks in which three IDF soldiers were injured. Israeli security forces launched a broad counterterrorism operation in northern Samaria, focusing on the Jenin and Tubas areas.
Read more...

Previous years bulletins

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004

The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a nationalist conflict between two peoples living in the Land of Israel: the Jewish people and the Palestinian people. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is more than 100 years old and has been given worldwide prominence. The roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict go back to the 19th century, when nationalist movements gained momentum around the world, among them the Zionist movement and the call to emigrate to the Land of Israel to build a national home for the Jewish People. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict took a nationalist turn and grew after the First World War. 

The issues at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict include the permanent borders, security arrangements, Israel’s demand for Palestinian recognition of the existence of the Jewish People, the status of the Palestinian refugees, the control of Jerusalem, the Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria, the distribution of water resources and the distribution of additional resources in Judea and Samaria.

A prominent feature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the severe manifestations of violence and terrorism in the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria that have accompanied it throughout the years of its existence. The fighting is carried out by terror squads and individuals. These manifestations of violence have led to many losses and property damage on both sides.

Over the years, many attempts have been made to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Most of the proposals attempted to promote a permanent solution that would involve the creation of Palestinian autonomy or an independent Palestinian state to be established alongside the State of Israel. This is known as the “two-state solution.” Another proposed solution for resolving the conflict is a “one-state solution” whereby all of the western Land of Israel, including the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria, would become a binational state. The attempts were unsuccessful due to disagreements over the nature of the solution and due to a basic lack of trust between the sides.