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The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

Captured Documents Show Iranian Support for Hamas in the Gaza Strip

Iran has been Hamas' primary strategic supporter since 2014, providing military equipment and training as well as financial aid amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars for the movement's leadership and its military wing. Senior Hamas figures have also publicly thanked Tehran for providing weapons enabling attacks deep inside Israeli territory; Hamas documents captured by IDF forces during the Gaza Strip War offer a glimpse into the extent of Iranian penetration of Hamas as part of constructing the "resistance axis" against Israel. In addition to supporting Hamas' military activities, Iran supports other Gazan terrorist organizations and funds civilian, educational and cultural initiatives; The documents also provide new information on Iran's involvement in Hamas' preparations for the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre, including coordination with Hezbollah and Hamas deployment in the Lebanese arena; The documents reveal a strategic Iranian process to gain a foothold and exert influence over Hamas in particular and the Gaza Strip in general. Iran carried out the process by means of extensive funding, partially directed towards civilian programs, strengthening Shi'a within the Sunni society in Gaza (and influencing Hamas' decision-making by controlling financial sources and the significant procuring of weapons.
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Spotlight on Terrorism – October 2024

During October 2024, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, Judea, Samaria, and south Lebanon, with attacks on Israel from pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and Yemen; Lebanon: The fighting escalated with the start of the IDF maneuver against Hezbollah in south Lebanon on October 1, 2024. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 806 attacks on IDF forces and military, security and civilian targets in Israel as far as the Tel Aviv area, and deployed new weapons. Due to high number of casualties, Hezbollah stopped issuing mourning notices for senior figures and operatives, except for the announcement of the elimination of Hashem Safi al-Din, head of the Executive Council, who was to be appointed Hezbollah secretary general; The Gaza Strip: The terrorist organizations fired 28 rockets at Israeli territory, compared to four rockets in September. Targeted killings of senior Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist operatives continued, including Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip; Israel, Judea and Samaria: Palestinian terrorists carried out eight attacks were carried out in Israel, Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem, compared to six in September; eight civilians and two security personnel were killed. Three of the terrorists held Israeli identification cards and two others held Jordanian citizenship. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations focused on northern Samaria. At least 27 terrorist operatives were eliminated in exchanges of fire and airstrikes, including commanders of terrorist organizations in Tulkarm, Nablus and Jenin, as well as operatives preparing to carry out attacks; Shi'ite militias: The Islamic Resistance in Iraq issued 72 claims of responsibility for attacking 76 targets in Israeli territory, the highest number since the attacks began in November 2023, prompted by the escalation in the fighting between in Lebanon and the killing of al-Sinwar. The Saraya Awliya al-Dam militia issued 17 claims of responsibility. Most of the Iraqi militia launches were not verified, and some were intercepted. Two IDF soldiers were killed by an UAV in the Golan Heights, the first fatalities from attacks originating in Iraq. The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacking eight targets in Israel, compared to four in September.
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Antisemitism in the Arab-Muslim World during the Gaza Strip War

The Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, and the outbreak of the Gaza Strip War ignited the largest wave of antisemitism and hatred of Jews worldwide since the end of World War Two. That hatred is reflected in the Arab-Muslim world, from the Iranian-led resistance axis, with terrorist organizations like Hamas and the Houthis, to the so-called "moderate" Sunni countries such as Turkey and Qatar; In the Arab-Muslim world, antisemitism inundates newspaper articles and cartoons, statements by influential religious and political leaders, and the social media, where posters explicitly call for attacks on Jews. They use a combination of anti-Jewish themes from traditional Islamic texts and classic European antisemitic motifs, such as those in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion; The unprecedented Hamas terrorist attack and massacre on October 7, 2023, marked the first time that Hamas' deeply ingrained hatred of Israel and the Jews was so fully and brutally understood and brought to bear; The objectives of this study are to explain the historical and religious roots of antisemitism in the Islamic world, identify significant centers which spread antisemitism today, and show how antisemitic propaganda tries to define the Jews. We use a precise definition of antisemitism as it refers the alleged collective negative traits of Jews, both in terms of their perceived spiritual and physical characteristics; In ITIC assessment, as long as the war in the Gaza Strip continues and as long as the Palestinians continue accusing Israel of committing "genocide," Islamic antisemitism will carry on in high gear, as has been the case since October 7, 2023. Although antisemitism in the Arab-Muslim world has mainly remained in the media and on social networks, the pro-Palestinian riots carried out for the most part by Muslims in the Netherlands on November 7, 2024, in which Israeli soccer fans were attacked, suggest that Islamic antisemitism may lead to more acts of violence as the war continues. However, ending the war in Gaza does not guarantee a decrease in Islamic antisemitism. The narrative promoted by Hamas and the Palestinians surrounding the Gaza Strip War and its aftermath may keep antisemitism at high levels even after a ceasefire.
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (November 5 – 12 , 2024)

The IDF forces continued operations in the northern Gaza Strip, focusing on the Jabalia refugee camp and Beit Lahia, and in the central and southern parts of the Strip. Five IDF soldiers were killed; Qatar announced it was temporarily suspending its mediation efforts for a hostages and ceasefire agreement. Senior Hamas figures denied reports that Qatar had ordered the movement's leadership to leave Doha following American because of lack of progress in negotiations; The IDF announced the opening of the Kerem Shalom Crossing for humanitarian aid and enlarged the humanitarian zone; There has been no progress in talks between Hamas and Fatah on establishing a committee to manage the Gaza Strip; Documentation was published showing torture of Palestinians by Hamas operatives in Gaza. Gazans protested high prices, forced merchants to close their businesses, accused them of deliberately raising prices and complained about lack of oversight, police weakness and ongoing fighting; Two Israelis were injured in a stabbing and vehicle ramming near the settlement of Shilo. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria, including airstrikes; The PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas spoke with President-elect Trump and expressed willingness to work with him to achieve peace. At the Arab-Islamic summit meeting in Saudi Arabia, Mahmoud Abbas met with the King of Jordan and the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince, gave a speech and called on Arab and Muslim countries to pressure for Israel’s expulsion from the UN and to review their relations with Israel.
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (October 29 – November 5 , 2024)

The southern arena: IDF forces continued extensive operations in the northern Gaza Strip, focusing on the Jebalya refugee camp and Beit Lahia, while maintaining activity in the central and southern parts of the strip. Two IDF soldiers were killed, and another died after having been wounded; Hamas leaders rejected Egyptian and American proposals for temporary ceasefires and partial releases of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, reiterating their demand for a complete end to the war and an Israeli withdrawal from the entire Gaza Strip; Hamas and Fatah representatives reached a preliminary agreement to establish a technocratic committee to manage public affairs for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and handle the strip's reconstruction after the war's end; Israel, Judea and Samaria: Over the past week no terrorist attacks were carried out. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities throughout Judea and Samaria, including airstrikes. Dozens of operatives from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine were detained in operations in Judea and Samaria; PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas visited Cairo, meeting with President el-Sisi and the head of the Arab League. The Palestinians condemned Israel's announcement of banning UNRWA's activities.
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The pro-Iranian Militias in Iraq: Characteristics of their Activity since the Beginning of Iron Swords War

On November 2, 2023, pro-Iranian militias in Iraq began attacking Israel under the name “Islamic Resistance in Iraq.” The attacks have been intended to support Hamas in the Gaza Strip, based on the concept of “unity of arenas” promoted by Iran through its proxies in the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. To that end, a joint operations room of the “axis of resistance” was established, under Iranian supervision; So far, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has issued 242 claims of responsibility for attacks against more than 285 targets in Israel, mostly using drones and several cruise missiles. In addition, 12 attacks were carried out in cooperation with the Houthis in Yemen. More than half of the attacks targeted sites in Eilat, the Golan Heights, and Haifa. Drones launched from Iraq have caused the deaths of two IDF soldiers, injuries to several soldiers and civilians, and property damage. However, the vast majority of the launches did not penetrate Israeli territory; In the ITIC’s assessment, as long as the fighting in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon continues, the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq are expected to persist in their attacks against Israel as part of the “support front” of the “axis of resistance,” in an attempt to achieve a psychological victory with a significant strike on Israeli territory and to solidify their standing among the pro-Iranian proxies in the Middle East. In the ITIC’s assessment, if there is further escalation in the direct conflict between Iran and Israel, Tehran may instruct the militias to intensify their attacks against Israel and against American targets in the Middle East and may even provide them with more advanced weapons. In addition, if Iran directly attacks Israel again, the Iraqi militias may take part in the attack under Iran’s guidance and coordination.
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