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The Palestinian Authority (PA)

Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (February 25 – March 4, 2025)

The first stage of the ceasefire agreement ended without a Hamas-Israel agreement for continuing negotiations for the second stage and the release of the hostages. Hamas accused Israel of committing a "war crime" by halting the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, and reiterated that they were committed to implementing the agreement. According to reports, Hamas' military wing is preparing to resume fighting against Israel; In preparation for the March 4, 2025 emergency Arab summit in Egypt to discuss the plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, Hamas said it would be willing to relinquish control of the Strip as part of an arrangement which had national consensus, but would not agree to the presence of foreign forces in the Strip; This past week there were three terrorist attacks, two of them inside Israeli territory, in which one person was killed and at least 16 others were injured. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations in northern Samaria. Hamas incited anti-Israel violence for the beginning of the Muslim month of Ramadan.
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (February 18 – 25 , 2025)

Hamas transferred the bodies of four murdered Israeli hostages and six living hostages, including two who had been held in the Gaza Strip for more than a decade. Due to the release "ceremonies" and Hamas' failure to transfer the body of a female hostage at the agreed time, Israel delayed the release of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement but claimed they were prepared to negotiate on the second phase; Hamas figure Musa Abu Marzouq claimed he would not have supported the October 7, 2023 attack [and massacre] had he known the extent of the damage that would be visited on the Gaza Strip. Hamas rushed to claim his remarks had been taken out of context; Reportedly, the Egyptian reconstruction plan for Gaza will include restrictions and oversight on the weapons of "the resistance."; A senior delegation of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) visited Iran and met with regime leaders; Three explosive devices blew up on empty buses in the central Israeli cities of Bat Yam and Holon. Two additional explosive devices were discovered before they could be detonated. There were no casualties. Israeli security forces continued extensive counter-terrorism operations in northern Samaria, including the use of tanks for the first time in 22 years; Reportedly, the American administration halted funding to the Palestinian Authority's security forces, significantly impacting their capabilities.
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Summary of Terrorist Events, January 2025

During January 2025 fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria, along with Houthi attacks from Yemen. On January 19, 2025, a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip went into effect, also bringing an end to Houthi attacks. The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah held firm, and pro-Iranian militias in Iraq did not attack Israel; Israel, Judea, and Samaria: Palestinian terrorists carried out five attacks in which three Israelis were killed. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations throughout Judea and Samaria and launched a large-scale operation in northern Samaria; Gaza Strip: Until the ceasefire on January 19 went into effect, 11 rockets were fired into Israeli territory. Targeted killings of leading military figures in Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continued. Hamas confirmed the deaths of its military wing chief, Mohammed Deif, and other senior military leaders; Shi'ite militias: The Houthis claimed responsibility for 18 missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets (until January 19, 2025).
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (February 11 – 18 , 2025)

Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad released three Israeli hostages, and in return Israel released 369 Palestinian prisoners. Despite Hamas' agreeing to resume prisoner releases, senior figures in the movement continued to accuse Israel of violating the humanitarian clauses of the ceasefire agreement and delaying negotiations on the second phase; Given the announcement of Trump's plan to relocate Gazan to other countries, Egypt and several other Arab states reportedly have a plan to reconstruct the Gaza Strip without evacuating the residents and without Hamas involvement; Senior Hamas figures emphasized that the movement did not seek to govern the Gaza Strip the "day after" but opposed transferring full authority to the Palestinian Authority. Elections for the Hamas leadership will most likely be postponed given the uncertainty of the future of the ceasefire; An Israeli civilian was injured in an axe attack on Mt. Gilboa in northern Israel; the terrorist was detained. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations in northern Judea and Samaria; Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas said he opposed the "displacement" of the Gazans and called for the implementation of the [so-called] "right of return."
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Hamas Promotes a “Victory” Narrative for Gaza Strip War

The announcement of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, even before it went into effect on January 19, 2025, provided Hamas with an opportunity to start promoting a "victory" narrative over Israel in the aza Strip War, which they refer to as Operation al-Aqsa Flood, which began with the Hamas terrorist attack and massacre on October 7, 2023; Official statements from Hamas and its senior figures, amplified by the movement's official and affiliated media outlets, as well as during public "release ceremonies" for Israeli hostages, aimed to promote the narrative that Israel had failed to achieve its objectives against the "resistance" and the "steadfastness" of the Gazans; Hamas' media made extensive use of statements from Israeli political, military and media figures, which in their perspective reinforced the message of Israel's "failure" to achieve the war's objectives; In ITIC assessment, Hamas will continue highlighting Israel's failure to achieve its objectives and promoting the "victory" narrative as long as the ceasefire agreement is maintained, in order to soften public criticism in Gaza of the extensive devastation in the Strip. If the agreement transitions to the second phase, which is expected to include further Israeli withdrawals from Gaza and the release of more prisoners who committed particularly serious crimes, Hamas will intensify its "victory" propaganda to increase its power in Gaza and maintain its position in the Palestinian arena, even if it is forced to relinquish actual control over the Gaza Strip.
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The atmosphere among Palestinians who returned to the northern Gaza Strip

Opening access to northern Gaza, as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, led to euphoria among the returnees, who did not hide their happiness and felt a sense of participation in the "victory" narrative promoted by Hamas. However, encountering the widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure in northern Gaza led to frustration and anger, and thousands of displaced Gazans returned to the south of the Strip; Some of the criticism was directed at Hamas, with accusations that the movement was not addressing the urgent needs of the residents and was instead focusing on hostage "liberation ceremonies". Nevertheless, criticism remains limited due to fears of a violent response from Hamas, which was quick to demonstrate power and governance as the ceasefire went into effect; In ITIC assessment, uncertainty regarding the timetable for Gaza's reconstruction, particularly in the north, will most likely increase frustration and many may return to the displaced persons camps in the south, where basic services exist and there is a steady supply of humanitarian aid. In addition, given President Trump's proposal to temporarily or permanently relocate the residents of the Strip, the destruction may increase willingness, especially among the younger generation, to consider leaving for abroad in hopes of building their future. In ITIC assessment, Hamas will suppress critical voices by force. However, given public frustration, the extensive destruction in Gaza will make it difficult for Hamas to sustain its "victory" narrative over time without presenting solutions, and may seek to shift responsibility, for instance to the committee for managing the Strip which Egypt is trying to promote, while striving to maintain its military strength.
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