Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (June 10 – 17 , 2025)

IDF activity in Gaza

• This past week IDF forces continued aerial and ground attacks on hundreds of terrorist targets, primarily those beloning to Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), some operating from civilian structures. Targets included terrorist squads and operatives, weapons storage facilities, booby-trapped buildings, tunnels, weapons manufacturing sites, anti-tank missile launch positions, observation and sniper posts and other terrorist facilities. The forces also recovered the bodies of two Israeli civilians who were murdered and kidnapped into Gaza during the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack and massacre. Three IDF soldiers were killed in combat in the southern part of the Strip (IDF spokesperson, June 10–17, 2025).
• “Palestinian sources” reported that the IDF carried out extensive aerial and artillery attacks, including in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, where there were reports of heavy shelling in eastern neighborhoods, with claims of dozens of casualties, some trapped under rubble. According to reports, in the al-Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, drone attacks and artillery fire allegedly hit buildings close to one another and caused many casualties (alresala.net, June 14, 2025).
• However, Gazans reported a notable shift in the Israeli “aggression” in recent days, with a decrease in the extent of aerial attacks and artillery shelling in central Gaza, a drop in ground activity and partial withdrawals of tanks, especially from areas in central and western Khan Yunis. According to the Gazans, drones had disappeared from the skies over the Strip for most of the day. They attributed the shift to Israel’s preoccupation with its war against Iran (al-Ayyam, June 16, 2025).

Rocket fire

• During past week five rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip at Israeli communities near the border. All rockets landed in open areas. No casualties or damage was reported (IDF spokesperson, June 10–17, 2025). The Hamas military-terrorist wing claimed responsibility for firing Rajum rockets at the communities (Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades Telegram channel, June 14–15, 2025).

• President Trump claimed Iran was involved in negotiations for a deal in the Gaza Strip (Reuters, June 9, 2025). In response, “Hamas sources” claimed Iran had no role in the negotiations, adding that Iran did not directly intervene in the talks, nor did it ask the movement to make concessions or exert pressure. They claimed they were unaware of a United States request for Iran to pressure the movement to change its positions (al-Sharq al-Awsat, June 11, 2025).
• “Sources in the Hamas negotiating delegation” stated that several ideas had been discussed in recent days with the mediators regarding a ceasefire and that reports in the Israeli media and from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office about “progress” were contrary to reality (al-Jazeera Telegram channel, June 12, 2025).
• “Arab intelligence officials” and “two senior Hamas figures” claimed that Izz al-Din al-Haddad, believed to be the new commander of the Hamas military-terrorist wing, had shown more signs of pragmatism than Yahya and Muhammad al-Sinwar. According to the sources, in early 2025 al-Haddad pressured Muhammad al-Sinwar to accept the deal which was ultimately concluded in January 2025 for the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and a cessation of fighting. He also pushed al-Sinwar to release more hostages in an effort to extend the ceasefire before it ended in March 2025. They added that al-Haddad was aware of Hamas dire situation and was more open to discussing Israeli and international demands for the disarmament of armed terrorist operatives, which was met with opposition from the al-Sinwar brothers. However, it was noted that he shared the view that all hostages should not be released without an Israeli withdrawal and the end of the war (Wall Street Journal, June 11, 2025).
• A “senior Hamas figure” said that hopes for a ceasefire in the Strip were fading, adding that the recent Israeli attack on Iran would complicate progress toward a ceasefire and inflame the situation in more than one Arab arena. He warned that the attack on Iran would not be without consequences for the Gaza Strip and accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of not wanting to end the war and of continuing to use every means of escalation to advance his personal agenda. He said Netanyahu was deliberately sabotaging ceasefire efforts despite Hamas’ “flexibility” [sic] during the rounds of negotiation, he and his government lacked political will and were exporting their internal crises to the battlefield. The “figure” claimed that events in the Gaza Strip were part of Israel’s plan to redraw the regional map in its own image and added that there would be no breakthrough in the Strip anytime soon, since anyone who bombed Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen was not seeking solutions but igniting a regional war (al-Mashhad TV, June 13, 2025).
• Musa Abu Marzouq, deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, said that although Israel spoke of returning to negotiations, in practice nothing had happened. He accused Israel of not wanting to stop the war despite the proposals Hamas had presented and claimed the Palestinians “knew” the problem was Netanyahu’s “bloodlust.” He added that the Israel-Iran War would affect the situation in the Strip but thought it could also push Israel toward a temporary ceasefire (RT Arabic, June 16, 2025).

The situation in Gaza

• The Palestinian Authority ministry of education and higher education reported that since the beginning of the Israeli “aggression” on October 7, 2023, at least 16,245 “students” had [allegedly] been killed in the Gaza Strip and 25,959 wounded. It also reported that 443 schools and universities had been attacked, including 91 UNRWA institutions, with 60 university buildings completely destroyed. High school students in the Gaza Strip are not taking exams for the second consecutive year (Wafa, June 10, 2025).
• On June 12, 2025, the Palestinian telecommunications regulatory authority announced that all Internet and landline services in the Gaza Strip had been completely disconnected because of damage to the last remaining operational fiber optic line. The authority warned of severe humanitarian consequences, including harm to essential services such as health, aid, education and communication, and called for urgent international intervention to allow technical teams access to the damaged areas (Wafa, June 12, 2025). On June 14, 2025, the authority reported the gradual return of Internet and landline services in Gaza City and the northern districts after five days of complete disconnection, following repairs by Palestinian communications teams. The Palestinian communications company later announced that it had restored Internet and landline services in central and southern Gaza as well (Wafa, June 14, 2025). On June 16, 2025, the authority reported that Internet and landline services in central and southern Gaza had been cut off again (Wafa, June 16, 2025). The Hamas government media information office in the Gaza Strip accused Israel of deliberately cutting off communications and Internet access for the tenth time since the war began, part of a policy of “killing” and “covering up crimes.” It claimed the disconnections were not technical failures but calculated actions intended to isolate the Gaza Strip from the world, conceal its true situation and prevent civilians, including medical teams, from accessing communication tools, requesting assistance and treating the wounded (Telegram channel of Hamas government media information office, June 16, 2025).

Humanitarian aid distribution

• The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the American company established to distribute humanitarian aid in the Strip, announced that over the past week, more than 14.4 million food portions had been distributed. In its first three weeks of operation, the foundation distributed over 25.91 million portions in 442,080 packages. On June 16, 2025, for the first time, all four of the foundation’s distribution centers in the Strip operated simultaneously (GHF Facebook page, June 16, 2025; Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories X account, June 16, 2025).

• The foundation reported that armed Hamas terrorist operatives attacked a bus carrying more than 20 of its workers on their way to a distribution center in the Khan Yunis area during the night of June 11, 2025. At least five workers were killed, others were injured and there were concerns that some had been kidnapped. The foundation strongly condemned the act, called it a crime against humanity and urged the international community to immediately condemn it. The foundation also pledged to continue its aid operations for the people in Gaza (GHF Facebook page, June 12, 2025). The foundation later reported that 12 of its local workers had been killed in the attack and that several others were seriously injured (GHF Facebook page, June 15, 2025).
• Hamas and its affiliated media outlets continued to accuse IDF forces and the American security company working with the humanitarian foundation of attacking and firing at “hungry civilians” in the distribution centers. The Hamas-controlled ministry of health in the Gaza Strip reported that since the centers began operating on May 27, 2025, at least 397 people had been killed “by direct fire while attempting to reach humiliating food distribution points,” and more than 3,000 had been injured. Hamas claimed that at least 59 had been killed and more than 200 injured in the al-Tahlia area in Khan Yunis (Hamas ministry of health Telegram channel, June 17, 2025).
• Hadid Jawad Daghmesh, a security guard for the American foundation in central Gaza, was shot by Hamas security forces after being documented firing at civilians while armed and wearing a vest. According to the report, he was formerly with the Palestinian Authority’s preventive security forces and was suspected of forming a gang during the war that looted public and private property (al-Siyad Telegram channel, June 15, 2025).

Hamas governance

• Eleven members of Yasser Abu Shabab’s militia, which operates against Hamas with Israeli support, surrendered to the “Palestinian resistance”^[1] in central Gaza, expressed regret and admitted to having been blackmailed. The militia members arrived in a vehicle bearing the Red Crescent emblem and another associated with the UAE, both previously seized in Rafah. The announcement came after the “Palestinian resistance” declared that the “gate of repentance” remained open to those who recanted before it was too late (al-Siyad Telegram channel, June 10, 2025).
• There were violent clashes in Khan Yunis, including heavy gunfire, the use of grenades and local artillery fire, between Hamas Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades and a group associated with Yasser Abu Shabab. Many operatives were seriously wounded and taken to Nasser Hospital. Later, under orders from the Hamas military leadership, public executions of some militia members were carried out and their bodies were “publicly humiliated” (al-Siyad Telegram channel, June 12, 2025).
• Three Gazans suspect of theft in eastern Gaza City were reportedly shot in the leg. Their names were published and Hamas security forces issued a public warning that any thief would henceforth face immediate punishment by gunfire, a policy intended to deter and establish order “during wartime” (al-Siyad Telegram channel, June 15, 2025).
• Chaos continued in Hamas-controlled areas of the Gaza Strip. Armed clashes between local clans were repoted at several points in Gaza City. Civilians were injured and property was damaged (Majhad al-Natsar Telegram channel, June 15, 2025).
• The IDF spokesperson published documents revealing the method used by Hamas from the beginning of the war to systematically exploit humanitarian aid entering Gaza. According to the documents, Hamas took control of a significant portion of the aid, sold it for profit, smuggled goods like cigarettes and demanded protection payments from merchants and businesses. Hamas also funded the purchase of aid with money transferred from abroad and resold it to residents at inflated prices. Following Israel’s decision to halt the entry of humanitarian aid in March 2025, Hamas encountered financial difficulties (IDF spokesperson, June 12, 2025).

International activity to “break the siege” on the Gaza Strip

• The organizers of the Convoy of the Steadfast (al-sumud), which left from Tunisia with more than 1,500 volunteers from various countries and planned to reach the Rafah Crossing, announced they would return to Tunisia after authorities in the area controlled by General Khalifa in eastern Libya blocked their advance and arrested 15 participants. Convoy spokesperson Wael Nawar said that on June 15 they were informed the land route was blocked and that all attempts to negotiate a land or sea passage had failed (Arabi21 Telegram channel, June 16, 2025). The organizers claimed eastern Libyan authorities also completely cut off access to the Internet to sever the convoy’s contact with the outside world and hinder further action (al-Jazeera Palestine Telegram channel, June 14, 2025). Earlier, Egyptian authorities arrested over 200 pro-Palestinian activists from countries including France, the United States and the Netherlands and deported Moroccan activists who had arrived in Cairo. They also revoked the passport of Zandwa Mandela, grandson of former South African president Nelson Mandela, and expelled him after he came to support the convoy. Egyptian forces reportedly attacked convoy participants and stole their property, and convoy members reported a continuous blockade, communications disruptions and the denial of food, accusing Egypt of acting under Israeli-American pressure (al-Amq al-Maghribi website, June 11, 2025; Agence France-Presse, June 12, 2025; Quds Agency, June 14, 2025).

• Hundreds of civilian organizations in Malaysia announced their intention to launch an international naval fleet of one thousand vessels to “break the siege” on the Gaza Strip. According to Azmi Abd al-Hamid, president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations, the responses he received from around the world were encouraging and indicated a significant willingness for global cooperation to exert humanitarian and diplomatic pressure on Israel to end the sea and land blockade of Gaza (SAMA, June 15, 2025).

Reactions to the Israel-Iran War

• Hamas, the PIJ and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) condemned Israel for attacking Iran and expressed full support for the Islamic Republic and its response to Israel. They called the Israeli attacks a “dangerous development” and called on world countries to form a united front against Israel.
• Musa Abu Marzouq, deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, claimed the Israeli attacks in Iran had been caused by Tehran’s support for Hamas and the Iranian nuclear issue was merely a pretext. He added that most of Iran’s allies saw themselves as unable to confront Israeli aircraft (RT, Russia, June 16, 2025).

The PFLP deputy secretary general visits Iran

• Jamil Mazhar, PFLP deputy secretary general, visited Iran at the head of a delegation from the organization’s political bureau and met with regime officials before the Israeli offensive began. He discussed recent developments in the Palestinian arena and expressed gratitude for Iran’s support of the “resistance:”
  • Meeting with Mazhar, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was working “vigorously” to harness all diplomatic and political tools to bring about an immediate halt to the “Zionist crimes” in the Gaza Strip. Pezeshkian blamed disunity among Islamic states as a key factor enabling the continuation of the “killing” in Gaza and called for greater regional unity to form a common position on common issues, especially the Palestinian issue. Mazhar praised Iran for its unwavering support of the Palestinians, especially during this period of “killing, infrastructure destruction and medical and nutritional blockade.” He said that despite the “many crimes,” the Palestinian people were standing firm and not surrendering to Israel’s attempts to cause “forced migration” from Gaza (IRNA, June 11, 2025).

• • Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi praised the “resistance and steadfastness” of the Palestinian people against the “crimes of the Zionist regime” and said Iran viewed the PFLP as one of the oldest groups in the “resistance against the Zionist regime” in the Palestinian arena and held it in high esteem. He noted Iran’s “principled” firm stance in supporting the Palestinian people and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Araghchi added that Iran would continue supporting the Palestinian people and the “resistance,” especially in the political-diplomatic, legal and international arenas. He also emphasized the need for unity among Palestinian factions and noted that developments since October 7, 2023, had reinforced the “centrality” of the Palestinian issue regionally, in the Islamic world and globally. Mazhar thanked Iran for its support of the Palestinians and their struggle against Israel and briefed Araghchi on the situation in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria and east Jerusalem (Iranian foreign ministry website, June 9, 2025).
  • Mazhar also met with IRGC commander Hossein Salami,^[3] who said that now was the ideal time for “Palestine” to bring all its capabilities to the battlefield, as it was the best opportunity to attack the “Zionist regime” (Tabnak, June 9, 2025).
  • Ali-Akbar Ahmadian, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, told Mazhar that “the Zionist regime is committing the greatest crime against humanity” and that its leaders had to be held accountable for their “tterrible actions” before the “free peoples of the world” (Nour News, June 10, 2025).

• The United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on five individuals and five NGOs which were funding Hamas military-terrorist wing under the guise of being non-profit humanitarian organizations. The designated individuals and entities operated in the Gaza Strip, Algeria, the Netherlands and Italy. The Treasury also sanctioned the Ramallah-based al-Dameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Foundation, which is linked to the PFLP (United States Treasury website, June 10, 2025). Organizations dealing with Palestinian prisoner affairs, including the Palestinian Authority’s commission for detainees and ex-detainees affairs, issued a joint statement condemning the sanctions against al-Dameer. The statement claimed the allegations of ties to the PFLP were unfounded and called the move another attempt to criminalize the activities of Palestinian human rights organizations and undermine their role in protecting Palestinian prisoners (Wafa, June 15, 2025).

• Senior Hamas figure Sami Abu Zuhri responded to a letter from Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, expressing support for Hamas’ relinquishing control of the Gaza Strip and disarmamant, and noted that a future “Palestinian state” would be demilitarized. According to Abu Zuhri, Mahmoud Abbas had no legitimacy to address the issue of the “resistance’s” weapons and the decision belonged to those “who oppose the occupation, not to those who cooperate with it.” He added that the letter “reflects only the views of those who signed it” and claimed that any project that harmed the “resistance” would fail (al-Risalah, June 11, 2025).
• Muhammad Mustafa, Palestinian Authority prime minister, said they intended to ensure a monopoly on arms in the future “Palestinian state.” He claimed they were not planning to harm any Palestinian “faction,” Hamas or any other (al-Jazeera, June 12, 2025).
• Musa Abu Marzouq, deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, called the idea of Hamas’ disarming and its leadership’s leaving Gaza a “myth.” He claimed they had already relinquished governance in the Gaza Strip several times to their “brothers” there, but they “always encountered difficulties” (RT, Russia, June 16, 2025).

Terrorist attacks

• Shooting near Hermesh in western Samaria: On June 12, 2025, a terrorist opened fire at IDF forces at the Hermesh checkpoint in Samaria. The forces returned fire and neutralized him. No casualties were reported (IDF spokesperson, June 12, 2025). Hamas confirmed the terrorist was one of its operatives (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, June 12, 2025).

Counterterrorism activity

• Over the past week, Israeli security forces continued extensive counterterrorism activities in northern Samaria, in addition to ongoing activity in other parts of Judea and Samaria. The forces detained wanted individuals, eliminated a PIJ operative who had planned attacks, seized weapons and explosives and confiscated funds used for financing terrorism. During activity in the Kasbah [Old City] of Nablus, four IDF soldiers were injured when two terrorists attempted to grab one of their weapons; the two terrorists were shot and killed (IDF spokesperson, June 10–17, 2025). The PIJ confirmed that a senior operative of its military wing, who had previously been imprisoned in Israel, was killed in the village of Tamoun (PIJ combat information Telegram channel, June 11, 2025).

   
Right: The IDF in Nablus (IDF spokesperson, June 12, 2025)
Left: The IDF in the Sa-Nur area (IDF spokesperson, June 17, 2025)

• Following the Israeli attack on Iran on June 13, 2025, the IDF imposed movement restrictions on Palestinian cities in Judea and Samaria. The restrictions were later lifted and inspection measures were increased at exits from Palestinian communities to prevent potential terrorist activity initiated by Iran or in support of it (Israeli media, June 15, 2025). In response to the restrictions, senior Hamas figure Mahmoud Mardawi called it “collective punishment” which violated basic human rights, and claimed that restricting civilian movement violated international law. He added that restricting entrance to the gates of al-Aqsa Mosque and preventing worshippers from entering was a “grave violation” of the sanctity of Islamic holy sites. He warned of the dangerous implications of the current escalation which took place alongside the Israeli “aggression” against Iran, and accused Israel of trying to expand the confrontation to “crush” the Palestinian people (alresala.net, June 13, 2025; Hamas Telegram channel, June 13, 2025).

International activity

• On June 13, 2025, following the Israeli attack on Iran, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the postponement of the Two-State Solution conference, which was to take place June 17–21, 2025, in New York under the sponsorship of France and Saudi Arabia. He said PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman could not attend the conference because of the regional situation and expressed hope the conference could be reconvened as soon as possible (Reuters, June 13, 2025).
• Muhammad Mustafa, PA prime minister, spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan to discuss regional developments (Arabia Ajal Facebook page, June 13, 2025). He also held separate phone calls with the foreign ministers of France, Italy, Spain, Norway and Cyprus, during which they discussed efforts to end the war in Gaza, the urgent need to bring in humanitarian aid and curb the “growing famine.” The possibility of convening an international peace conference soon was also discussed, noting that launching a real political process toward a Palestinian state was the only path to achieving regional peace, security and stability (PA prime minister’s office Facebook page, June 14, 2025).
• Mustafa and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the implications of the Israeli attack on Iran. Abdelatty reviewed Egypt’s efforts to renew the ceasefire in Gaza and bring in humanitarian aid in cooperation with Qatar and the United States. He also noted Egypt’s opposition to “Israel’s hunger policy” and the importance of safeguarding the rights of the Palestinian people (Egyptian foreign ministry Facebook page, June 16, 2025).