The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (April 1 –7, 2025)

IDF forces continued operations targeting the military capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the northern Gaza Strip, the Rafah area and along the Morag Axis in the south, ordering the evacuation of entire areas. Terrorist operatives were eliminated, some of whom were hiding in civilian buildings. Rocket fire at Israeli territory continued; nine people were injured; Hamas opposed Israeli demands in the negotiations for renewing the ceasefire and releasing the hostages. The spokesperson for the Hamas military wing stated half of the hostages had been deliberately left in the combat zones; Isolated protests continued against the ongoing war and calling for an end to Hamas rule. The family of a young Palestinian who was shot by a Hamas police officer responded by killing the officer; A study by a British research institute found that the names of thousands of alleged Palestinian fatalities disappeared from the records of the Hamas-controlled ministry of health in Gaza; According to reports, Egypt is formulating a new framework through which it would assume responsibility for administering the Gaza Strip for one year, followed by a five-year transitional period of Egyptian security rule in coordination with an international force; Israeli security forces continued extensive counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria.
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (March 25 – April 1, 2025)

IDF forces operated against targets of Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the northern and central Gaza Strip. In the south, the IDF ordered the evacuation of the city of Rafah. Senior terrorist operatives were eliminated, including a Hamas spokesperson. Six rockets were fired at Israeli communities near the Gaza border; there were no casualties; Efforts continued to renew the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Hamas claimed it would not hesitate to release all the Israeli hostages if it guaranteed the end of the war; Spontaneous popular demonstrations took place in various locations of the Gaza Strip to protest the continuation of the war and to end Hamas rule. According to reports, Hamas security forces threatened and assaulted protestors; The Hamas government in the Gaza Strip admitted that due to the elimination of senior figures it was currently limited to providing only basic services; Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations reportedly agreed that dismantling their military wings in the Gaza Strip was a red line and they would not to discuss it as long as the "Israeli occupation" continued; Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria, and exposed a terrorist cell handled by Hamas headquarters in Turkey.
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Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (March 18 – 25, 2025)

IDF forces continued operations against Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip. Terrorist operatives were eliminated, including members of the Hamas political bureau and commanders in its military wing. Eight rockets were fired at Israel, some toward the Greater Tel Aviv area. there were no casualties; Hamas condemned the IDF activity and accused Israel of undermining the ceasefire agreement. Hamas claimed it was prepared to continue negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire and the release of hostages to end the war; Fatah official warned Hamas that its continued rule in the Gaza Strip threatened the existence of the Palestinian people. Hamas confirmed that it had proposed a ceasefire lasting five to ten years for reconstruction and reassessing its role in the Palestinian arena; An Arab-Israeli terrorist carried out a shooting and vehicle ramming attack near the northern Israeli town of Yokneam; one Israeli civilian was killed and a soldier was injured. Israeli security forces continued extensive counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria; The Palestinian Authority prime minister accused Israel of the "forced displacement" of fifty thousand residents of the Jenin and Tulkarm refugee camps.
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (March 11 – 18, 2025)

On March 18, 2025, the IDF attacked Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist operatives and facilities in the Gaza Strip for the first time since the ceasefire went into effect on January 19, 2025. Hamas claimed that more than 400 people were killed, including senior figures in its political bureau, and accused Israel of renewing the "war of extermination" and endangering the lives of the hostages. Hamas claimed they remained committed to continuing negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. The spokesman for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s military wing was reportedly killed in an attack on the central Gaza Strip; The Palestinian Authority accused Hamas of engaging in unauthorized contacts with "foreign entities" regarding the future of the Gaza Strip. In response, Hamas demanded that the Palestinian Authority cease security coordination with Israel; Palestinians welcomed the American president's statement that "no one is expelling Palestinians from Gaza."; An Israeli civilian was injured in a shooting near Ariel. Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism operation in northern Samaria and expanded it to Nablus; Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas visited the king of Jordan and noted the importance of Arab coordination in implementing the Arab-Islamic initiative for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
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Spotlight on Terrorism, February 2025

During February 2025 fighting continued in Judea and Samaria. In the Gaza Strip, the ceasefire which began on January 19, 2025, continued. The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah also continued. The Houthis and the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq did not attack Israel. Israel, Judea and Samaria: Palestinians carried out four terrorist attacks, killing three Israelis; there were five attacks in January. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations throughout Judea and Samaria, continuing their extensive operation in northern Samaria. Terrorist operatives and commanders of terrorist organizations were eliminated in exchanges of fire and aerial strikes.  The Gaza Strip: The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continued. IDF forces attacked suspicious Gazans who approached them in various areas of the Strip. Three rockets launched from the Gaza Strip did not reach Israeli territory.  Lebanon: IDF forces withdrew from south Lebanon on February 18, 2025, except for five strategic points near the border. The IDF continued actions against Hezbollah’s attempts to violate the November 27, 2024 ceasefire understandings and against the organization’s efforts to rebuild itself. Terrorist operatives were eliminated and military facilities were attacked. A senior Hamas operative was eliminated and other terrorist organizations operating in Lebanon announced operatives had been killed in IDF strikes. The Shi’ite militias: Since January 19, 2025, when the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip went into effect, the Houthis have not attacked Israel or Israeli shipping. The pro-Iranian militias in Iraq have not claimed responsibility for attacking Israel since November 24, 2024, and negotiations between the Iraqi government and the militias regarding their disarmament continued.
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (March 4 – 11, 2025)

Hamas confirmed secret talks had been held with representatives of the Trump administration but claimed the movement would agree to the release of the hostages only as part of a comprehensive agreement which would end the war in the Gaza Strip. They also reiterated their commitment to negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement; Hamas reportedly took action against senior figures and operatives who abandoned their positions during the war. It was also reported that the military wing was reorganized because of manpower shortages; The Egyptian plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, valued at more than $50 billion without the evacuation of Gazans, was approved at the Arab emergency summit and by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The Palestinian Authority said it would manage the Strip, while Hamas continued to call for the establishment of a management committee that would receive broad Palestinian consensus; Terrorists shot at an IDF force at a checkpoint in Samaria; no casualties were reported. Israeli security forces continued extensive counterterrorism operations in northern Samaria and eliminated the head of a Hamas cell in Jenin; Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas attended the Arab emergency summit in Cairo and met with foreign leaders, including the presidents of Syria and Lebanon.
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