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The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

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.
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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.
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (January 20 – 27 , 2025)

The ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip continues. Hamas released four female hostage soldiers in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners, some of whom were serving life sentences and some who were deported abroad. Approximately 300,000 displaced persons returned to northern Gaza after the IDF evacuated parts of the Netzarim Corridor following the resolution of a dispute over the release of an Israeli civilian hostage; Senior Hamas figures called the return of the displaced to northern Gaza a "victory." Hamas continued to demonstrate governance with the deployment of large police forces and the execution of individuals suspected of collaborating with Israel. The Palestinian Authority continued its efforts to assume responsibility for the Gaza Strip; The Palestinians condemned the American president's proposal to transfer more than one million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to neighboring Arab countries; According to reports, Hamas recruited thousands of new operatives into its military wing during the war and provided them with accelerated training. An investigative program showed pictures of Muhammad Deif before the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre, and of Yahya Sinwar in Rafah during the war; Four Israelis were injured in a stabbing attack in Tel Aviv; the assailant, a foreign national, was killed. Israeli security forces continued extensive counterterrorism operations in Jenin and Tulkarm, targeting terrorists from the air and on the ground. Four IDF soldiers were injured; Hamas accused the Palestinian security forces of collaborating with Israel because of the arrest of terrorist operatives from the Jenin Battalion; The Palestinian Authority's prime minister met in Damascus with Syria's de facto leader. 
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (January 14 – 21 ,2025)

On January 19, 2025, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip went into effect, the first phase of a deal to release Israeli hostages. Hamas released three Israeli hostages in exchange for ninety Palestinian women and minors imprisoned in Israel; Senior Hamas officials stated their commitment to the ceasefire agreement, calling it "a victory over Israel." Hamas quickly demonstrated its governance by deploying large security forces in the Gaza Strip, while the Palestinian Authority (PA) demanded it receive responsibility for the Strip; An Israeli was stabbed in Tel Aviv; the terrorist was killed. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria and launched a large-scale operation in Jenin. An IDF soldier was killed and three others were injured in two explosive device attacks during the operation; Jewish settlers rioted in Palestinian villages in the Qalqilya area; The Palestinian Authority security forces continued their activities against gunmen in the Jenin refugee camp after understandings between the sides collapsed. However, the PA's activities ended with the beginning of the Israeli security force operation. 
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Summary of Terrorist Events, December 2024

During December 2024 fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria, with continuous attacks from the Houthis in Yemen. The ceasefire in south Lebanon was maintained and the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq did not attack Israel; The Gaza Strip: Palestinian terrorists fired twenty rockets at Israeli territory, compared to eleven the previous month. A UAV was launched toward Israel and was intercepted. Targeted attacks on Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leaders and terrorist operatives continued, including the elimination of Tharwat al-Beic, head of the Hamas security forces, and Diab Ali al-Jarou, mayor of Deir al-Balah. Terrorists who participated in the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre were also eliminated; Israel, Judea and Samaria: Palestinian terrorists carried out nine attacks (six of them in Israeli territory) which killed two Israeli civilians; four attacks were carried out in November 2024. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria, and eliminated terrorist operatives on the ground and from the air, including commanders of terrorist networks; Lebanon: The ceasefire which went into effect on November 27, 2024, was maintained. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for one attack on an IDF post. Groups allied with Hezbollah reported casualties from IDF strikes which targeted violations of the ceasefire; The Shi'ite militias: The Houthis claimed responsibility for twenty missiles and UAV attacks on Israeli targets, compared to five attacks in November 2024. They also claimed responsibility for six joint attacks with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq against Israel, the first such act of cooperation since July 2024. However, Islamic militias in Iraq have not claimed responsibility for attacks on Israel since November 24, 2024, the result of pressure from the Iraqi government and concerns over potential Israeli retaliation.
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (January 7 – 14, 2025)

IDF forces continued extensive operations in the northern, central and southern Gaza Strip. They eliminated dozens of terrorists from the air and on the ground and destroyed terror facilities. According to reports, Hamas operatives were using tunnels in northern Gaza and had restored communication systems. Twelve IDF soldiers were killed in the fighting in the northern Gaza Strip; A breakthrough was reported in the indirect negotiations in Qatar, and final responses from Israel and Hamas regarding the first stage of the agreement are pending. Senior Hamas figures discussed the negotiations with the Emir of Qatar and the head of Turkish intelligence; A senior Hamas figure said they had agreed to establish a support committee to administer the Gaza Strip based on technocrats, and claimed the movement did not seek to control the Strip. According to reports, the Palestinian Authority (PA) informed Egypt of its opposition to the idea of the support committee; A new "popular" movement was announced in the Gaza Strip, accusing Hamas of not representing the public and intimidating local residents; According to reports, internal elections to choose the new head of the political bureau to replace Yahya Sinwar will take place in March 2025; Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria. Two terrorists en route to carry out an attack were detained; The PA security forces continued their operations against armed terrorists in the Jenin refugee camp. Seventeen booby-trapped vehicles and more than 240 explosive devices were neutralized. Hamas condemned the PA's actions and called on the public to stop them.
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