Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (June 3 – 10, 2025)

The IDF in the Gaza Strip

• This past week IDF forces increased air and ground activity in the Gaza Strip and took over additional areas, attacking hundreds of terrorist targets, primarily those belonging to Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). They attacked terrorist squads, weapons depots, booby-trapped buildings, tunnels, anti-tank missile launch sites and other terrorist facilities, including command and control complexes, some of which operated from civilian buildings. An IDF fighter was killed in an encounter in the Shejaya neighborhood in Gaza City and four IDF fighters were killed in the explosion of a booby-trapped building in Khan Yunis (IDF spokesman, June 3-10, 2025):
  • Terrorist operatives were eliminated, among them Assad Abu Sharia, the leader of the Mujaheddin Brigades, and other senior terrorists in the organization who participated in the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre. Abu Sharia was involved in holding and murdering hostages. The forces recovered the bodies of two Israeli citizens and a Thai citizen who were kidnapped in the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre and murdered while being held by the Mujaheddin Brigades.
  • The forces operated in Hamas facilities under the European Hospital complex in Khan Yunis, where command and control rooms, weapons and the bodies of terrorist operatives were discovered, including the head of Hamas military wing, Muhammad al-Sinwar, who was killed in an attack on May 13, 2025.

• On June 9, 2025, Avihai Adraei, the IDF spokesperson in Arabic, instructed the residents of the Jabaliya refugee camp and the village of Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate immediately to shelter areas in Gaza City (IDF spokesperson in Arabic, June 9, 2025). Following an early Israeli warning of the intention to attack the al-Rafa’i and al-Negab schools in Jabaliya al-Balad, a large number of Gazans left the area, including families who were staying in the schools as displaced persons. The warning led to a mass movement of the displaced persons al-Mawasi and Deir al-Balah (Fatah Media Telegram channel, June 8, 2025).

• “Sources” reported that the IDF controlled all areas east of the Salah al-Din Axis in Khan Yunis and parts of the center and south of the city, but had not yet penetrated the western areas, where UAV, artillery fire and aerial attacks continued. According to the “sources,” the IDF was systematically working to surround the city and destroy buildings, especially in the Hamed Project area. Allegedly, the goal was to push the Palestinian population into emigrating by making Khan Yunis uninhabitable, and even to prepare it for the absorption of refugees in an area that would be designated as a humanitarian zone (al-Sharq al-Awsat, June 8, 2025).
• “Palestinian sources” reported increased IDF ground activity in the Shejaya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, and Khan Yunis and the center of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Reportedly there has been an increase in the number of “Palestinian resistance”^[1] ambushes of IDF forces in Khan Yunis, while in the Jabaliya refugee camp, the Palestinian “militants” have increased the use of remotely-operated drones carrying explosive charges (Palestine News Telegram channel, al-Jazeera Telegram channel, June 3-10, 2025).
• Hamas stated that “the resistance was waging a war of attrition” in response to “attacks targeting civilians,” and “surprised Israel every day with its new tactics.” It also claimed that the escalation of the Israeli military operation only increased IDF losses and pushed the prisoners [hostages] “into the unknown future,” while reiterating that there was no solution except in the comprehensive exchange deal rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Hamas added that Netanyahu’s talk of “total victory” was an illusion designed to mislead the Israeli public, and the “endless war” he initiated had become a daily burden which would ultimately bring about the end of his political and personal career (Hamas Telegram channel, June 8, 2025).

Rocket launch

• On June 10, 2025, the IDF intercepted a rocket launched from the northern Gaza Strip at Zikim Beach. There were no casualties and no damage was reported (IDF spokesman, June 10, 2025).

• Over the past week no progress was made in negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Hamas continued to claim it was prepared to hold a new round of negotiations to end the war in accordance with its conditions, holding Israel responsible for the stalemate:
  • On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, Khalil al-Haya, head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and head of its negotiating team, claimed the movement was prepared to hold a serious new round of negotiations for a permanent ceasefire. According to him, Hamas did not reject the proposal of the American administration’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, but rather proposed “amendments” aimed at ensuring an end to the war, preventing renewed fighting and introducing assistance with dignity to the residents. He claimed Hamas was prepared to transfer control of the Gaza Strip to any professional Palestinian body which was accepted by national consensus. He said Hamas was working with all parties to reach an agreement which would guarantee the demands of the Palestinian people, including a ceasefire, IDF withdrawal, lifting the “siege” and a respectable “prisoner” exchange deal. According to him, the main obstacle was the Israeli government led by Netanyahu, which refused to end the war for personal and ideological reasons (Hamas Telegram channel, June 5, 2025).
  • Muhammad Nizal, Hamas political bureau member, said there was a new Qatari attempt to revive the negotiation process, and Hamas was open to it and any other initiative designed to bridge the gaps and achieve a positive result for the Palestinian people, but said it was too early for optimism. He said that after a thorough examination, Wittkoff’s proposal did not offer anything practical and even set the discourse back. However, Hamas accepted the proposal in principle as a basis for negotiations, with important comments, especially regarding the ceasefire. He warned that the objective of Israel’s demand to release all ten “prisoners” and 18 hostages who died in the first week of the ceasefire was to allow Netanyahu to violate the agreement immediately afterwards, as happened in January 2025 (Arabi21 website, June 4, 2025). On another occasion, Nizal claimed that the negotiations had stalled because the Netanyahu government refused to stop the war until its strategic goals had been achieved; pressure from the American president was necessary, and there was no clear position or pressure from the Arab and Islamic countries. Nizal further said that Hamas did not trust Netanyahu and would continue to fight in the political and propaganda arenas alongside the armed “resistance” (al-Araby al-Jadeed, June 6, 2025).
  • “Sources” claimed that Hamas refused to adopt Witkoff’s “Framework for Negotiating an Agreement to a Permanent Ceasefire”   because it included a controversial clause, which Hamas called as a “deliberate mine” intended to establish Israeli control over aid and institutionalize the activities of a specific American body, something the Palestinian “resistance” regarded as a threat to its sovereignty and a humiliation for the Gazans. According to Hamas and the other “factions,”^[2] approval of such a mechanism would allow Israel to exploit the aid for political control and influence, and to concentrate the Gazans in the Rafah area. Hamas demanded a return to a recognized, transparent international mechanism and the elimination of any Israeli supervision of aid within the Strip (Rai al-Youm, June 6, 2025).
  • Muhammad Darwish, Hamas Shura Council Chairman, and Ziyad al-Nakhalah, secretary general of the PIJ, met in Doha to discuss the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the international mediation efforts to end the fighting. Reportedly they reiterated the need for Israel to withdraw, the fighting to stop and humanitarian aid to be delivered as conditions for an agreement. They also praised the steadfastness of the Palestinians in the face of international silence, and noted Israel’s failure to “break the will of Gaza.” They also condemned the [alleged] continued Israeli attacks on Jerusalem, the West Bank, inside the Green Line, Syria, and Lebanon, and called for Arab-Islamic unity against the “Zionist terrorist project” (Hamas Telegram channel, June 5, 2025).

The situation in Gaza

• This past week the Hamas-controlled ministry of health continued to promote the narrative of the paralysis of the public health system in the Gaza Strip:
  • Hospital directors in the Gaza Strip warned that the public health system was on the brink of collapse because of the shortage of fuel, electricity, medicines, clean water and oxygen. Without the urgent receipt of supplies, they claimed, medical activity would stop within 48 hours and hospitals would turn into “cemeteries.” They claimed that entire wards were unable to function properly and simple life-saving measures such as oxygen to operate ventilators and electricity for monitoring devices were unavailable (Al Jazeera Telegram channel, June 8, 2025).
  • On June 8, 2025, the Hamas-controlled ministry of health claimed that the Shifa and al-Ma’adani Hospitals in Gaza City would cease operations within 24 hours, and Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis would cease operations within 48 hours due to a fuel shortage. That evening, the ministry announced that the Shifa Hospital had been provided with fuel sufficient for three days. The ministry said that the shortage of fuel needed to operate the generators in the functioning hospitals was worsening, and called on the relevant parties to take action to ensure a regular supply of fuel (Telegram channel of the Hamas ministry of health in the Gaza Strip, June 8, 2025).
  • “Palestinian officials” reported that because of the collapse of transportation in Gaza and the lack of fuel, the wounded and bodies were being transported to hospitals on carts pulled by animals (Reports from the Field Telegram channel, June 8, 2025).

Activity of the humanitarian aid distribution centers

• The Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), the American company established to distribute humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, announced that in the first two weeks of its operation it had distributed approximately 11,495 million food rations in more than 192,000 boxes (GHF Facebook page, June 9, 2025). In addition to the four distribution centers, which did not operate continuously, the fund reputedly began transferring the food to local merchants for distribution (Jerusalem Post, June 8, 2025).
• The Humanitarian Fund reported that on June 7, 2025, Hamas prevented the distribution of food packages to hundreds of thousands of needy Gazans after making direct threats against the Fund’s Palestinian and American employees, which made it impossible to continue operations without endangering innocent lives. The statement said that Hamas was again trying to control the distribution of humanitarian aid by diverting it, manipulating its distribution and promoting its own agenda over the Gazans’ basic needs (Facebook page of the Gaza Humanitarian Fund, June 7, 2025).
• Hamas and its affiliated media outlets accused IDF forces and the American security company of the Humanitarian Fund of targeting and shooting at “hungry civilians.” The Hamas media information office claimed that since the start of the operation on May 27, 2025, at least 163 people had been killed as a result of “direct fire while trying to reach food packages at the humiliating distribution points.” The media also claimed that about 1,500 people had been injured and nine Palestinians were missing “after being coerced by the Israeli-American organization into reaching areas militarily controlled by the occupation army” (Hamas government media information office Telegram channel, June 9-10, 2025). On the other hand, in recordings published by the IDF spokesman, a Gazan told an officer from the Office of the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories that Hamas operatives had fired shots at the aid distribution points to prevent the aid from reaching local residents because Hamas wanted to control it and steal it for themselves. Other Gazans confirmed that Hamas was shooting at IDF forces and spreading false information about casualties to deter the public (IDF spokesman, June 5, 2025).

Governance

• On June 5, 2025, Israel confirmed it was arming Yasser Abu Shabab’s Popular Forces militia from Rafah, which was operating against Hamas (Israeli media, June 5, 2025):
  • A “commander in resistance security” claimed the “occupation” was trying to establish a “safe zone” east of Rafah under the management of Abu Shabab’s militia. He warned that “the end of those traitors would be more bitter than the end of the regime in 2007 [Hamas coup against the Palestinian Authority rule in the Gaza Strip],” and that they would “be dragged through the streets” (al-Siyad Telegram channel, June 5, 2025).

• • “Hamas figures” and journalists affiliated with the “resistance” claimed Yasser Abu Shabab militia operated in the service of Israel, part of what they call a “planned chaos project” in the Gaza Strip. According to the allegations, Abu Shabab received weapons, funding and direct instructions from the Israeli government to undermine public order, steal humanitarian aid and carry out internal acts of terrorism attributed to “local criminals.” Hamas described him as a “sniffing dog” used by the IDF to locate explosives and mark targets before IDF forces entered an area. According to claims he and his operatives sometimes pretended to be civilians or working for the Palestinian Authority, and their actions were part of a broader “occupation” policy to weaken the “resistance” from within using agents, provocations and staged corruption. Hamas regarded it not only as a security threat but as a serious breach of public trust, and would use harsh measures against collaborators, including immediate sanctions or the death penalty without trial (al-Siyad Telegram channel, June 5, 2025). Abu Shabab’s militia was also accused of killing former security personnel and three children in revenge (Western Perspective Telegram channel, June 8, 2025).
  • The Bedouin Tribal and Clan Council said that Abu Shabab and people like him were “traitors and collaborators.” The Supreme Council for Tribal Affairs in the Gaza Strip said that “what Abu Shabab and his gang are doing represents a violation of national norms and traditions and is a crime against our Palestinian people.” The Palestinian Mukhtars’ Association stated that “the crimes Abu Shabab commits serve Israel’s goals” (Shehab Agency Telegram channel, June 5, 2025).
  • According to a post on a Facebook page allegedly belonging to Yasser Abu Shabab, “To our people in the beloved northern Gaza Strip, the introduction of aid through the Kerem Shalom Crossing is currently being considered, secured by the Popular Armed Forces, in agreement with the Red Cross and in coordination with the Israeli army. It is the first time aid secured by those forces will be introduced into the northern Gaza Strip. ” In response, the International Red Cross claimed it had “no connection to such cooperation with any armed, political or military entity,” and that it operated “independently, neutrally and impartially” (al-Quds al-Arabi, June 7, 2025).
  • Interviewed by the military correspondent Israeli Army Radio, Yasser Abu Shabab claimed he maintained relations with the Palestinian Authority “within the framework of the supreme national interest of the Palestinian people, and within the framework of its legal legitimacy.” According to Abu Shabab, they carried out security checks through Palestinian General Intelligence, which he said cooperated to ensure that terrorist elements did not enter and sabotage the “liberation project from Hamas” (Israeli Army Radio, June 8, 2025). In response, Anwar Rajab, spokesman for the Palestinian security forces, said they had no connection to Yasser Abu Shabab’s Popular Forces. He added that the claim that it was subordinate to the Palestinian presidency or the legitimate government was baseless, and adding that its actions were “against the law and was outside the scope of discussion” (al-Andalou Agency, June 8, 2025).
  • On the night of June 9, 2025, armed clashes were reported in Khan Yunis between the Sahem Unit of the Hamas ministry of the interior and Yasser Abu Shabab’s militia. According to the Hamas report, after an attempt was made to stop the clashes, “Zionist” air force aircraft attacked the security forces to allow the “agents” to escape, and five operatives of the Sahem Unit were killed (al-Siyad, June 10, 2025). Ghassan Aziz Daheena, Abu Shabab’s deputy, said they had ambushed the Sahem Unit force and used RPGs, and that five Sahem operatives were killed. He added that they would fight against “terrorism” until it was destroyed and they a “safe and stable life, free from terrorism and its destructive effects” could be achieved (Ghassan Aziz Daheena Facebook page, June 10, 2025).
• This past week chaos continued in the Hamas-controlled areas of the Gaza Strip, with reports of looting, gunfire and executions:
  • The Association of Private Transporters and Contractors in the Gaza Strip announced a complete shutdown of all transport activity until further notice. The decision was made after a convoy of 50 trucks driving from the Kerem Shalom Crossing to Deir al-Balah was ambushed by local “gunmen.” One driver was killed, three others were wounded and the trucks were heavily damaged. The association called it the most serious incident in a wave of attacks on aid convoys, reflecting a sharp moral decline and a serious loss of security control (journalist Osama al-Kahlout’s Telegram channel, June 5, 2025).
  • On June 6, 2025, an execution was carried out in a central square in Gaza City. The Iyad family was behind it, after accusing the victim of kidnapping and murdering their family member, who was filmed confessing to it. According to the family, they had launched an independent investigation due to the incompetence of the detectives of the General Investigations Department and had given the security forces a 48-hour ultimatum to execute the other two involved in the murder of their family member or hand them over to the family (Ali Abu Odeh’s X-account, June 7, 2025; albawaba24 website, June 7, 2025).
  • Gunfire between families was reported in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp after a dispute over food distribution; one person was murdered and a house was set on fire. Several attempted robberies were reported in Jabal al-Amari when armed men tried to seize goods; armed conflicts were reported in Khan Yunis between families/clans and local factions, over ideologies and control over resources (Fatah Media Telegram channel, June 8, 2025).
• Given the growing chaos, Hamas security forces increased enforcement and repression measures. “Hamas sources” reported that the Hamas leadership issued orders to pursue and target gangs of thieves and merchants who exploited civilians, and to punish them depending on the crime they committed.” Reportedly, executions only occurred after involvement in the killing of Palestinians had been proven. Anyone who organized gangs to carry out acts of robbery was executed, especially if it was proven that the person was collaborating with Israeli or other elements (al-Sharq al-Awsat, June 3, 2025):
  • During a large-scale operation in the area of ​​the al-Nuseirat and Deir al-Balah refugee camps, Hamas security forces arrested more than 12 thieves who were reported to have been systematically stealing sacks of flour from aid trucks. According to reports, some of the detainees were severely beaten on the spot and were transferred to a hospital for medical treatment, while others were taken for questioning by security forces. The investigation revealed that the thieves used three-wheeled “tuk-tuk” vehicles to transport the stolen flour from the crime scene. The incidents were recorded and distributed on social media to shame the perpetrators and strengthen social pressure against them (al-Ziyad Telegram channel, June 5, 2025).

• • A “source” reported that more than 30 thieves and robbers were arrested in the area of ​​the al-Nuseirat refugee camp, none of whom lived there. According to the source, the security forces “dealt with them” on the ground, and sharp tools used for robbery and theft were found in their possession (al-Ziyad Telegram channel, June 8 2025).
• Hamas security forces reportedly killed three gunmen looting trucks near Bani Suheila Square in Khan Yunis (Telegram channel of the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah, June 8, 2025).
• The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) held a series of gatherings in Khan Yunis and Rafah to combat the spread of chaos, social division and the effects of Israel’s plans for the “day after.” The gatherings were attended by public figures, mukhtars, and dignitaries. A draft of a “social honor charter” was discussed, which defined the responsibility of families and institutions for maintaining social fabric, ensuring that humanitarian aid reached those in need and combating the trafficking and violence surrounding aid. It was agreed to establish volunteer committees, increase partnerships with local entities and promote a signature campaign in support of the charter. The participants noted that dealing with Israel’s plans was not only a security issue but also a social and ethical one, and called for the continued expansion of the initiative throughout the Gaza Strip (PFLP website, June 6, 2025).

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

• On the night of June 8, 2025, without the use of violence, IDF fighters took control of the ship Madeleine in the Mediterranean Sea which was en route to the Gaza Strip with symbolic medical aid and 12 foreign passengers, including Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, Hamas and Hezbollah supporter Thiago Avila, and European Parliament member Rima Hassan. The ship was transferred to the port of Ashdod and the activists will be deported from Israel to their home countries. The Israeli foreign ministry stated that the sailing was “media provocation” since the ship’s cargo was equivalent to about one aid truck entering the Gaza Strip (Israeli ministry of foreign affairs and media, June 9-10, 2025). Hamas condemned the “piracy” and accused Israel of “organized political terrorism and a violation of international law.” Hamas demanded the release of the activists and imposed responsibility for their safety on Israel (Hamas official Telegram channel, June 9, 2025).

• On June 8, 2025, the “Convoy of Sumud” [steadfastness] left Tunisia for the Rafah Crossing with more than 2,000 volunteers from Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and Libya with the objective of “breaking the siege on the Gaza Strip and expressing solidarity with the Strip.” The convoy’s spokesman, Ghassan al-Nashiri, said it was the first land convoy to leave for Gaza since the war began in October 2023, and claimed that the “moral goal “was more important than the issue of aid (Telegram channel of journalist Abu Jud, June 8, 2025).

errorist attacks

• No terrorist attacks were carried out in the past week.

Counterterrorism activities

• This past week the Israeli security forces continued their extensive counterterrorism activities in northern Samaria, in addition to ongoing activities in other areas throughout Judea and Samaria. They detained dozens of wanted individuals and terrorist operatives, including a senior member of the PIJ’s Jenin Battalion and a terrorist who was about to carry out an attack. An explosives laboratory in Tulkarm was also destroyed, weapons and ammunition were seized, and funds used to finance terrorism were confiscated (IDF spokesperson, June 3-10, 2025).

Friction in Judea and Samaria

• On June 4, 2025, Palestinian media reported that dozens of Jewish settlers attacked houses in the town of Deir Dibwan (east of Ramallah), burning three houses, vehicles, a stable and a sheep pen. The mayor said at least 35 people had been injured and the settlers allegedly prevented ambulances from reaching the area (Wafa and Quds Agency, June 4, 2025). The Palestinian National Council called it “dangerous terrorism” and “deliberate ethnic cleansing” [sic] (Wafa, June 5, 2025). Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas, warned that the continuation of the war in the Gaza Strip alongside the “settler terrorism” in Judea and Samaria, and in particular the torching of houses in Deir Dibwan, would not bring security and stability to any of the parties involved (Wafa, June 5, 2025). Hamas condemned the incident and claimed that “such crimes are part of the policy of Judaization and displacement led by the extreme right-wing Israeli government” (Hamas Telegram channel, June 4, 2025).

nternational activity

• Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas sent a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in advance of the “two-state solution conference” to be held between June 17-21, 2025 in New York. Abbas emphasized that the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, was “unacceptable and had to be condemned” and demanded that Hamas immediately release all the hostages. He also stated that Hamas should no longer control the Gaza Strip and should be disarmed, adding that he was inviting Arab and international forces to deploy in the Strip as part of a stabilization and defense mission which would operate with a mandate from the UN Security Council. He also stated that a “future Palestinian state” would be demilitarized and claimed they were prepared to work to formulate security arrangements for the benefit of all parties involved as long as the “Palestinian state” enjoyed international protection (Agence France-Presse and Radio Free Europe, June 10, 2025).
• According to reports, Britain, France and other countries would not recognize a Palestinian state during the conference in New York, but would focus on gradual steps towards future recognition. France and Saudi Arabia, which are leading the conference, established eight working groups on issues such as economic rehabilitation, international law and peace narratives. Britain and France reportedly conditioned any future recognition of a Palestinian state on Hamas’ removal from power in the Gaza Strip (The Guardian, June 7, 2025).
• During the 113^th International Labour Conference, members voted unanimously to upgrade “Palestine” status in the International Labour Organization from a “national liberation movement” to a “non-member observer state.” The secretary-general of the PA Workers’ Union said the move would allow “Palestine” to showcase the plight of Palestinian workers under “occupation,” establish links with international workers’ organizations and benefit from the organization’s training programs. Dr. Inas Atari, PA minister of labor, thanked the countries which supported the decision and emphasized that the recognition was consistent with the status of “Palestine” in the UN and its agencies, such as UNESCO and the World Health Organization (Fajer TV Facebook page, June 6, 2025).

Activities of the Palestinian security forces

• An exchange of fire took place during a raid by the PA security forces on the library in the city of Qabatiya. There were no casualties (Quds Telegram channel, June 4, 2025).