The Palestinian Islamic Jihad

Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (December 3 – 10 , 2024)

IDF forces continued operating in the northern Gaza Strip, focusing on the Jebalya refugee camp and Beit Lahia, as well as in the central and southern parts of the Strip. One IDF officer and three soldiers were killed in the fighting; A ceasefire and relations for a hostage release deal: Qatar returned to the mediations amid reports of significant progress in talks based on the Egyptian plan. According to reports, Hamas submitted a list of Israeli hostages who would be released as part of the first phase in exchange for Palestinian prisoners; The World Central Kitchen dismissed more than 60 employees in the Gaza Strip after an Israeli security check identified them as security risks; Hamas claimed it supported the Egyptian initiative to establish a committee to manage the Gaza Strip after the war. Fatah claimed that forming the committee would create a division between the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria; A Gaza activist who criticized Hamas was killed; Hamas denied involvement in his death. Members of the Hamas ministry of the interior's Sahem Unit continued operations against "lawbreakers."; Israel, Judea, and Samaria: Two Israelis were injured in a vehicle attack at the al-Fawwar Junction. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria; Violent clashes broke out between PA security forces and gunmen in Jenin and the Jenin refugee camp. 
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (November 12 – 19 , 2024)

IDF forces continued their extensive activity in the Jabalia refugee camp and Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, alongside continued activity in the central and southern Gaza Strip. Three IDF fighters were killed in the northern Gaza Strip; The hostages and the ceasefire agreement: A senior Hamas “source” claimed that contact with the command in the Gaza Strip which is responsible for securing the hostages had been terminated. The Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman made it clear that his country is ready to renew mediation attempts if the sides show seriousness. Hamas denied that the movement’s leadership had moved from Qatar to Turkey; The Hamas Ministry of the Interior in the Gaza Strip established a new police unit to combat gangs looting aid convoys. More than 20 Palestinians were reportedly killed in the unit’s activity against looters; Israel, Judea and Samaria: This past week, two terrorist attacks were carried out, in which two IDF soldiers were wounded. The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria; Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said in a speech marking the 36th anniversary of the Palestinian "Declaration" of Independence that the Palestinians are still ready for peace and the implementation of the two-state solution but would not compromise on their rights. Mahmoud Abbas reportedly received an American proposal for the “day after,” including the establishment of an international civilian administration with the assistance of the Palestinian Authority, security arrangements, and the reconstruction of the region during the transition period.
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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 14 – 29 , 2024)

According to reports, Hamas would not elect a successor to Yahya al-Sinwar as the new head of its political bureau until March 2025 and would rely on the leadership of a committee composed of five senior members; IDF forces continued operations in the northern Gaza Strip, focusing on the Jabalia refugee camp and Beit Lahia, and in the central and southern regions of the Strip. Fourteen IDF soldiers were killed; Negotiations continued for a hostages and ceasefire agreement mediated by Egypt and Qatar. Senior Hamas figures did not reject the Egyptian president's proposal for a short ceasefire and the release of four Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but Hamas continues to demand a complete end to the war, full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the reconstruction of the Strip; Israel, Judea and Samaria: There were five terrorist attacks. An Israeli police officer and a civilian were killed, and others were injured. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities throughout Judea and Samaria; Mahmoud Abbas and senior Palestinian Authority figures continued activities in the international arena, accusing Israel of committing "genocide" and calling on the international community to impose sanctions on Israel unless it withdrew from Palestinian territories.
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The Elimination of Yahya al-Sinwar, Head of Hamas: Reactions and Insights

On October 17, 2024, the IDF spokesperson announced that Yahya al-Sinwar, head of Hamas' political bureau, had been killed in an encounter with IDF forces while he was hiding in a building in Rafah. The IDF spokesperson reported that al-Sinwar's identity became clear only after his body was discovered and that it had not been a targeted killing; Only a day later did Hamas confirm the death of al-Sinwar, who was appointed head of the political bureau at the beginning of September 2024 after the elimination of Isma'il Haniyeh. The movement's announcements praised al-Sinwar's role in leading Operation al-Aqsa Flood (the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre) and his death in a clash with IDF forces, adding that they would continue their "resistance" and would not change their conditions for ending the war in the Gaza Strip and releasing the hostages; The Palestinian Authority and the other Palestinian terrorist organizations condemned the killing, stating he was a symbol of the "resistance" and claiming he had been killed while facing the "enemy"; Iran and the rest of the "resistance axis" stated that al-Sinwar was a "fighter" and a symbol of the "resistance," and promised to continue their support for the Palestinian "resistance." Hamas and "resistance axis" supporters on the social networks praised al-Sinwar as having stood up to the "enemy" until the last minute, while Hamas opponents did not hide their satisfaction at his death; In ITIC assessment, his death might increase the importance of the "external" leadership in Qatar, but it is possible that Hamas will not reveal the name of the new leader to make it difficult for Israel to eliminate him or exert pressure on him in the negotiations. In ITIC assessment, al-Sinwar's brother, Muhammad al-Sinwar, is expected to fill his place in the leadership of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, both at the "political" and the military level. In ITIC assessment, in the near future the Hamas leadership will not change its positions regarding negotiations to end the war in the Gaza Strip, which are demands for a complete halt to the fighting, a complete withdrawal of IDF forces from the Strip, and the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons, especially the prisoners with blood on their hands, in exchange for the release of the hostages. However, if the "external" Hamas leadership becomes the dominant actor, it may be possible to exert sufficient pressure to achieve flexibility regarding the details of the deal and the future leadership in the Gaza Strip.
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (October 1 – 8 , 2024)

One year since the October 7 Hamas attack and massacre: Senior Hamas figures marked the first anniversary of the start of Operation al-Aqsa Flood with messages "justifying" the attack and praising the Palestinian "resistance" and throughout the Middle East, alongside accusing Israel of committing "genocide"; IDF forces began extensive activity in the Jebalya refugee camp and Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, alongside continued activity in the central and southern Gaza Strip, and attacks on Hamas facilities operating from civilian locations. An IDF fighter was killed fighting in the northern Gaza Strip. Eighteen rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory, including at the Greater Tel Aviv area, most of them on October 7, 2024; Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, renewed contact with Qatar after several weeks of inactivity. A senior Hamas terrorist rejected a proposal to exile the movement's leadership to Sudan. The spokesman for the Hamas military wing warned that IDF activity endangered the lives of the hostages; The Palestinian Authority prime minister announced the establishment of a national working party for reconstructing the Gaza Strip. Hamas and Fatah delegations arrived in Cairo to discuss the establishment of a "national consensus" government and the post-war management of the Strip; A Hamas delegation met with the president of Iran. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad congratulated Iran for attacking Israel with ballistic missiles; This past week Palestinian terrorists carried out three attacks, murdering seven civilians and a policewoman. The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria; at least 12 terrorist operatives were killed in an airstrike in Tulkarm.
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