The United States designated branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon and the leader of the branch in Lebanon as terrorist entities due to their support for Hamas, reflecting the administration’s dissatisfaction with the Islamist agenda promoted by the Muslim Brotherhood in the United States in particular and in the West in general. In ITIC assessment, the designation will have little impact on the continuation of Muslim Brotherhood activity, mainly in Western countries. Read more...
The Palestinian ambassador in Tehran said that Tehran has provided Palestine with unconditional moral and political support; An Iranian researcher claimed on a television program that Israel is destined to be destroyed as a political entity prior to the reappearance of the Twelfth Shiite Imam (the Mahdi); Iran’s embassy in Lebanon strongly condemned the IDF strikes in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley, claiming they strengthen the Lebanese people’s determination to “resist”; Reports indicated that Iran’s Supreme Leader welcomed the nomination of Nouri al‑Maliki for the formation of the new government in Baghdad. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson claimed that Tehran does not interfere in Iraq’s internal political affairs; The secretary-general of the Iraqi Harakat al‑Nujaba movement opposed efforts to disarm the pro‑Iranian militias, claiming that the “resistance’s weapons are ideological and disciplined”; The Houthis and the pro‑Iranian militias in Iraq escalated their threats to strike American and Israeli targets in the event of an attack against Iran. Read more...
Israeli security forces located the body of the last murdered Israeli hostage held in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Hamas claimed the return of the body showed the movement's "commitment to implementing the ceasefire agreement" and called for pressure to be exerted on Israel to stop its "violations" and move on to the second phase.
IDF forces continued operations within the Yellow Line of the Gaza Strip, locating and destroying terrorist facilities and weapons, including an attack tunnel, and eliminating terrorists who tried to attack soldiers; Despite the establishment of the Palestinian Technocrat Committee to run the Gaza Strip, Hamas continues its civilian and security governance and pursues members of militias supported by Israel; The terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip condemned the invitation to include the Israeli Prime Minister in the American Peace Council; Hamas denied the report that an agreement had been reached with the United States government to hand over weapons and tunnel maps in exchange for continuing to operate as a political party; however, the movement's spokesman claimed the weapons would not be an obstacle to reconstruction; In the assessment of the Palestinian Authority prime minister, the Authority will gain full control of the Gaza Strip in about two years; The United States Treasury Department imposed sanctions on a senior Hamas activist in Britain and on "charitable" associations which aided Hamas' military wing. A Lebanese man was arrested in Germany on suspicion of belonging to a Hamas network planning to attack Israeli and Jewish targets in Europe; The Palestinian Authority chairman met with the Russian president in Moscow. The Palestinian Authority prime minister participated in the World Economic Forum in Davos and met with foreign dignitaries. Read more...
The IDF continued attacking Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon and the Beqa'a Valley to enforce the November 2024 ceasefire agreement and prevent the organization's renewed military build-up. In south Lebanon and the Beqa'a Valley the forces attacked crossings on the Lebanon-Syria border used to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah, weapons depots and a facility of the Radwan Force. In addition, four Hezbollah operatives were eliminated, including the head of a weapons-smuggling network; Hezbollah continued to spread its propaganda narrative of steadfastness and sacrifice in the confrontation with Israel and the United States and the religious and ideological "legitimacy" of the weapons of the "resistance," and called on the state to secure the release of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel; The future of the committee overseeing implementation of the ceasefire agreement remains uncertain. Given reports of American and Israeli attempts to shift the focus to the political level with direct talks between Israel and Lebanon, and hold meetings at a United States base in Miami, the Lebanese government made it clear it was not prepared to make changes. The head of Lebanon's civilian delegation to the talks said if he received a mandate from the Lebanese leadership to conduct political talks with Israel, he wanted them held in Tel Aviv; Contacts are reportedly taking place with Hezbollah for a compromise on the issue of disarming north of the Litani River, despite the organization's continuing opposition to pressure that would lead to disarmament or a reduction of weapons; Lebanese judicial authorities initiated proceedings against Hezbollah supporters for insulting President Aoun amid growing criticism from the organization and claims that Lebanese establishment actions harmed the Shi'ite community; Qatar reportedly said it was prepared to rebuild three destroyed villages in south Lebanon under the supervision of an American company. Read more...
On January 14, 2026, Steve Witkoff, the American special envoy, announced the beginning of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. Following that, the establishment of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza was announced, a Palestinian technocratic body intended to manage day-to-day affairs in the Strip in accordance with the American 20-point plan; Most of the committee's 12 members, headed by Dr. Ali Shaath, are affiliated with Fatah and the Palestinian Authority (PA), and some of them served in PA governments and public institutions. Committee members include Sami Nisman, a former official in Palestinian General Intelligence who was sentenced to imprisonment by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and Hana Tarazi, the only woman on the committee and a Christian lawyer specializing in Islamic law; The members of the committee are entrusted with establishing the Gazans' security, restoring essential services and fostering a society based on peace, democracy and justice. Committee chairman Shaath said its top priorities included providing shelter for residents and clearing rubble, and the cancellation of fees and taxes for Gazans and businesses in the Strip had already been ordered; Hamas claimed it was transferring governing authorities to the committee, while the PA noted the need to link institutions in the Gaza Strip with Judea and Samaria; In ITIC assessment, despite the committee's genuine desire to begin its operations, in all probability it will encounter difficulties in translating its vision into reality. First, Israel will prevent them from entering the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Crossing as long as the issue of the last murdered Israeli hostage is unresolved, forcing committee members to operate from Egypt. In addition, the degree of freedom of movement the committee will receive remains unclear, particularly in areas where Israel maintains security control. Moreover, despite Hamas' alleged willingness to transfer governance to the committee, it will have to rely on tens of thousands of employees who remain loyal to Hamas after nearly two decades of absolute Hamas control in the Strip. In such a situation, the committee will at best be able to carry out limited assistance and reconstruction activities, but most likely not to resolve core issues of control, security and demilitarization. Read more...
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson criticized the White House announcement regarding the establishment of a “Peace Council” for the Gaza Strip, noting that any solution that ignores the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination is doomed to fail; The Iraqi foreign minister visited Tehran and met with senior Iranian officials. The senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader held a conversation with former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a leading candidate to form Iraq’s next government. These contacts took place amid growing Iranian concerns over a possible US attack and progress toward forming a new Iraqi government; The Houthi leader threatened that the movement would not hesitate to strike any “permanent Zionist presence” in Somaliland; Reports indicate that the Houthi leadership has raised its security alert level in light of events in Iran; Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq expressed full support for the Iranian regime and threatened retaliation in the event of an American attack against the Islamic Republic. Read more...
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