Winners in Gaza
January 25, 17:10
Netanyahu - We will destroy Hamas.
Meanwhile in the Gaza Strip...
P.S. Another hostage exchange took place today.
Hamas took the opportunity to publicly show that it is not defeated, as the US and Iran actually reported. Against this background, Israeli generals continue to shower statements about a lost war.
https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/9631726.html
Google Translator
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US Private Contractors To Supervise Key Gaza Checkpoint at Netzarim – Reports
January 25, 2025
Israeli soldiers remove the Israeli flag from the Netzarim axis. Photo: Palestine Chronicle.
The consortium is made up of three private companies that were selected by the US, Egypt and Qatar, according to Axios.
Private US security contractors will oversee a key checkpoint at Gaza’s Netzarim Corridor in the coming days and deploy armed guards to the enclave, Axios has reported.
The security companies will operate in Gaza “as part of a multinational consortium” that has been established under the ceasefire deal “with the backing of its brokers: the U.S., Egypt and Qatar,” according to the report on Thursday that cites two Israeli officials and a source with direct knowledge.
“The role of the U.S. contractors will be to inspect Palestinian vehicles that move from southern Gaza to northern Gaza and make sure no rockets or other heavy weapons are being transferred,” it added.
Military Zone
The seven-kilometer-wide Netzarim corridor, located just south of Gaza City, separates northern Gaza from the rest of the besieged enclave. Nearly every building in the area was completely demolished by the Israeli army and all Palestinians were displaced before it was turned into a military zone during Israel’s 15-month-long onslaught on the Strip.
In December, the Israeli Haaretz newspaper reported that Israeli army officers revealed that an area along the Netzarim corridor at that time was a designated “kill zone” where “anyone who enters is shot.”
‘Key Sticking Point’
The multinational consortium, according to Axios, was negotiated to “solve a key sticking point around the movement of displaced Palestinians back to northern Gaza.”
Israel had demanded that all Palestinians who return to the north go through security checks at the Netzarim corridor, the report stated. However, “Hamas refused.”
“The compromise was that vehicles would be able to go to northern Gaza only through one road and would have to be inspected at a checkpoint on the Netzarim corridor operated by a third party,” reported Axios.
A source familiar with the issue told Axios that “The consortium’s role is to oversee, manage, and secure a critical vehicle checkpoint along Salah al-Din Road, facilitating the safe return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.”
“The consortium aims to ensure orderly vehicle movement while preventing the transport of weapons northward, in line with the ceasefire terms,” the source added.
Hamas Statement
Hamas said in a statement on Thursday that on the seventh day of the truce (January 25) “after the end of the prisoner exchange process that day, and the occupation completes its withdrawal from the Rashid Street “Al-Bahr” axis; internally displaced pedestrians will be allowed to return north without carrying weapons and without inspection via Rashid Street, with freedom of movement between the south and north of the Gaza Strip.”
“Vehicles (of all types) will be allowed to return north of the Netzarim axis after inspecting the vehicles,” the statement added.
As for the 22nd day of the agreement, the statement continued, “internally displaced pedestrians will be allowed to return north from Salah Al-Din Street without inspection.”
US and Egyptian Companies
The consortium is made up of three private companies that were selected by the US, Egypt and Qatar, according to Axios.
It identified the American companies as Safe Reach Solutions (SRS), “a strategic planning and logistics company” and UG Solutions, a security company that “operates armed guards around the world.”
Some of the guards “are Americans who served in U.S. military special forces and others have various foreign nationalities,” a source told Axios.
The third company is an Egyptian security company “which has been approved by the Egyptian intelligence service,” the report noted, citing a senior Israeli official. The company will also deploy security guards to the enclave.
According to the Axios report, US contractors were expected to operate in Gaza until the end of the first phase of the captive exchange deal “whether as a result of an agreement on the second phase of the deal that includes a full Israeli pullout from Gaza or as a result of a break down in the negotiations and renewed fighting.”
The report also noted that it would be the first time “in decades” that private American security companies will operate in Gaza.
https://orinocotribune.com/us-private-c ... m-reports/
The West Bank’s Crucial Moment: ‘Israel’s’ Gamble and the Palestinian Authority’s Betrayal – Analysis
January 25, 2025
'Israeli' occupation forces storm the town of Ya’bad, south of Jenin. Photo: Quds News Network.
By Ramzy Baroud – Jan 22, 2025
Israel’s escalating military campaign in the West Bank, coupled with the PA’s complicity, sets the stage for a pivotal confrontation in Palestinian resistance.
The Israeli army continued its onslaught on the Jenin refugee camp, a military campaign that began almost immediately after a Gaza ceasefire was announced.
Though the epicenter of the campaign remains in Jenin, where many Palestinians have been killed or wounded, major West Bank cities have also been raided.
Israeli raids have reached numerous villages and refugee camps, leading to the arrest of many Palestinians.
The Palestinian Authority (PA), which has long acted as a supposed vanguard of Palestinian rights, is actively participating in the Israeli campaign. In fact, the PA was involved in pacifying the Resistance in Jenin and other West Bank areas prior to Israeli attacks, seemingly setting the stage for a larger Israeli military crackdown.
PA Role
The irony is that the PA named its operation in Jenin, which extended from December 5 to January 21, “Protecting the Homeland.” Yet, the operation merely tried to pacify the “homeland,” making it easier for the Israeli military mission to follow through.
The degree of PA violence against Palestinians in the West Bank is increasingly comparable to Israeli violence, further cementing the claim that the PA is, in fact, a tool of control used by the Israeli occupation against Palestinians.
In 2007, Gaza rebelled against the PA in what was erroneously dubbed at the time as the Hamas-Fatah clash, with Fatah being the dominant party in the PLO and the faction of PA President Mahmoud Abbas.
It is unclear whether a similar rebellion against the PA is possible in the West Bank, at least for now, considering the Palestinian population there faces three tiers of violence: the Israeli army, armed illegal Jewish settlers, and Abbas’ security forces.
Hoping to “preserve Palestinian blood,” the Jenin Resistance had agreed, on January 14, to sign an agreement with the PA, allowing PA forces to enter Jenin without confrontation, as long as they refrained from taking violent measures against the Resistance. The PA reportedly reneged on the agreement, leaving parts of Jenin open to Israeli military entry.
The days of urging the PA to prioritize national unity over its “security coordination” with Israel are over, as Palestinians now see the PA as an integral component of the Israeli army.
The Timing
But why is Israel attacking the West Bank, and why now?
The Israeli military operation in the West Bank, codenamed ‘Iron Wall’, was ostensibly carried out for the sake of “destroying terrorist infrastructure in Jenin,” and preventing another October 7, according to Israeli security sources cited by Channel 14.
However, this cannot be true. Even with heightened resistance in the northern West Bank, the region appears unprepared for an October 7-like Al-Aqsa Flood Operation.
The logic of the ‘Iron Wall’ lies more within the political and psychosocial realms.
First, Israel was defeated in Gaza, an unprecedented defeat in the history of the country, according to David K.Rees, writing in The Times of Israel. From the official Israeli viewpoint, the psychological impact of that defeat requires immediate action to prevent Israeli society and media from dwelling on its larger and long-term consequences.
This is partly why Israel is attacking the West Bank, which, at least for now, represents the soft belly of Palestinian resistance, partly due to PA repression.
The same logic can explain why Israel has agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon while advancing unopposed in Syria.
Israeli muscle-flexing is largely aimed at sending a message of power and control to the Israeli public, which has lost faith in its army, intelligence, and political institutions.
Second, the Israeli operation in the West Bank is part of a political trade-off between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and extremist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The latter, though opposed to the Gaza ceasefire, remained in the government, bolstering Netanyahu’s fractious coalition.
Unlike Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, who resigned along with his Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, Smotrich stayed, on the condition of carrying out a major military operation in the West Bank, paving the way for further expansion of illegal settlements.
This exchange benefits both Smotrich and Netanyahu. Smotrich can now rally more followers to his far-right base, claiming to have stood firm on Israel’s national security in Gaza while suppressing Palestinians in the West Bank.
For Netanyahu, it’s also a way to keep Smotrich’s supporters happy, as the rise of Smotrich’s base could weaken Ben-Gvir’s influence, as both vie for the same constituency.
New Intifada?
While Israeli leaders ramp up violence in the West Bank for political gains, they are not paying much heed to warnings from military and intelligence leaders.
On January 9, for example, Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy and senior officers warned the war cabinet that the West Bank is on the brink of an explosion, and that tensions could lead to a “a third intifada (uprising).”
Indeed, Israel’s miscalculation in the West Bank could potentially lead to a much-anticipated popular uprising, which, if it occurs, will be difficult, if not impossible, to control according to Israeli military timetables.
Palestinian anger resulting from the Israeli genocide in Gaza, coupled with the collective sense of victory from the ceasefire, makes the possibility of an Intifada very real. If such an Intifada takes place, much of the West Bank—and Palestinian political life—would change.
The PA has already chosen sides in the upcoming conflict. The Israeli government, reeling from the Gaza defeat, is ready to engage in more military gambles. The world continues to watch in silence, as it has during 471 of Israel’s genocides.
Will the West Bank erupt with the same vigor and determination to win against the Israeli occupation, as their brethren in Gaza have? If the answer is yes, the Israeli occupation will face another major blow, paving the road for Palestinian freedom.
https://orinocotribune.com/the-west-ban ... -analysis/
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An Exclusive Interview with Hamas
By Christopher Helali - January 24, 2025 1
Christopher Helali interviews Dr. Basem Naim at the Hamas Political Office in Doha, Qatar, on August 22, 2024. [Source: Photo by Mahmoud Dakhil; licensed creative commons CC BY-SA]
In late August, I traveled to Doha, Qatar, to meet and interview Hamas political bureau members Dr. Basem Naim and Osama Hamdan. After nearly four months of planning and coordinating, I was finally approved to come and conduct the interview at their diplomatic headquarters in Qatar. Given the security situation, the details were carefully orchestrated.
My arrival needed to be precise. Locations and instructions were provided to me mere minutes before I was supposed to arrive. After arriving, my passport and credentials were checked, I was screened for weapons and communication devices, and escorted through the complex to the diplomatic reception room. My cameraman, Mahmoud Dakhil and I set up and started the meeting right on time. What was scheduled for an hour turned into a nearly three-hour meeting that explored various aspects of the ongoing negotiations, the history, and the complex realities on the ground in Gaza, in the other areas of Palestine, and beyond.
Due to the complexity and sensitivity of the then ongoing cease-fire negotiations, I decided to hold off publishing the transcript until a cease-fire deal was reached. Now with a tentative deal in place which I provide more details of below, I have published an edited transcript of our conversation below.
Dr. Basem Naim is a member of the Politburo of Hamas and served as the Minister of Health during the Palestinian Authority Government of March 2006 (popularly known as the First Haniyeh Government) and later as Minister of Youth and Sports in the Palestinian National Unity Government of March 2007 (popularly known as the Second Haniyeh Government). He represented Hamas during negotiations in Moscow in 2023.
Osama Hamdan is a member of the Politburo of Hamas and served as the Representative of Hamas in Tehran, Iran, from 1992 to 1998 and as the Representative of Hamas in Lebanon from 1998 to 2009. Since then, Osama Hamdan continues his diplomatic and political work for Hamas.
Christopher Helali: First, I would like to extend my deepest condolences and profound sympathies to you, to all of the members and supporters of Hamas, and to the Palestinian people on the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and all the martyrs and innocent lives lost during this brutal genocide in Gaza. Given that we are 11 months into this brutal and horrific genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza, what can you tell us about the status of cease-fire negotiations and the possibility of achieving a durable and lasting peace to end the suffering of the people of Gaza?
Dr. Basem Naim: Thank you very much for your visit. It is really appreciated from the movement, from our people in Palestine in general, in Gaza in particular, for a U.S. citizen to come here to show his solidarity and sympathy with the just cause of the Palestinian people. We believe that this is the real spirit of most of the people around the world, including the United States.
We believe that the American policies are not representing the wish and the will of most of the Americans, because any human being who believes in justice and peace, he will stand on the right side of history to support the oppressed people and the just cause of the Palestinian people.
What we are struggling for and what we are fighting for now for 75 years or more is how to get rid of the occupation. How to live like any other people in peace and security. How to secure a better and prosperous future for our children. How the Palestinian people who are really very ambitious can participate with other people, other nations around the world, for the goodwill of all people around the world.
We have offered at different stages a political solution to this conflict, but unfortunately the Zionist regime, not only this Zionist fascist regime led by Netanyahu, unfortunately supported by the American administrations, all the time they have undermined these chances hoping that day after day the Palestinians will become fatigued and give up their hopes of independence, freedom, self-determination, and right of return. Then they can implement their dreams, which is a nightmare for us, how to annihilate the Palestinian people, how to terminate the Palestinian existence on their own land, and how to build the greater state of Israel on the corpse, not only of the Palestinians, but of a lot of people here in the region.
I have here also to emphasize that our struggle is only against the occupation, regardless of its nationality, or religion, or political faith. We are fighting only against the occupation, someone who is driving a tank, or to attack our people, to destroy our houses. We have never had any problems with people of other religions, in particular here, in this case, with Jews or Judaism. On the contrary, we have a lot of friends who are Jews and who are good friends of us who are supporting our cause.
By the way, when Jewish communities in Europe and the West, in different countries, even before the Holocaust, were persecuted and attacked from different regimes in Europe, since the 19th century, they were welcomed in all Arab and Islamic countries, including in Palestine. They have lived in peace with our people for decades. The problem was serious only when they started to convert this humanitarian situation of the Jewish people who were persecuted in different countries in Europe into a political project on the corpses of the Palestinian people. Those who have offered them space in a house and accommodation, they have to leave the country based on some beliefs and tools from religious books.
Our struggle is only for freedom, dignity, independence, peace, and prosperity, a better future for all people. But again, we are not ready to give up or surrender under any kind of violence or massacres or from any party, not only the Israeli party. Therefore, we hope that the American people can understand the real story on the ground. It is a fight of people who are looking for freedom and dignity against oppression.
Unfortunately, we have always asked journalists, politicians, and diplomats only to tell the people, the ordinary people everywhere, including in the United States, the reality on the ground, what they have seen with their own eyes.
We are not asking anyone to fabricate stories or to lie on behalf of the Palestinians, only to reflect the reality. Can you imagine that the Gaza Strip, for example, 2.3 million Palestinians living now for more than 17 years under a suffocating siege?
So that a lot of international human rights organizations, including, by the way, some Israeli organizations, they have considered the Gaza Strip as the biggest open-air prison and one of the concentration camps of the 21st century with 70% of those 2.3 million people being children and minors with no hopes, no future, no horizon. This has led to the moment we are living now.
Again, what we are calling for is only to implement what humanity has agreed upon in international law and international humanitarian law, that all people have the right to their freedom, dignity, independence, and sovereignty.
When we have resorted to armed resistance, it is not only based on a historical reading of the conflicts everywhere in Vietnam, Algeria, and South Africa, but it is also based on international humanitarian law and international law that all people under occupation have the right to resist their occupation by all means, including armed resistance.
But this happened after we have given all the chances for a political solution and we have failed. No, we didn’t fail. The international community has failed.
Unfortunately, with the support of the United States, Israel has behaved as a rogue state, as a state above the law. Therefore, what we are calling for once again is to implement the international resolutions which are guaranteeing the Palestinians all the rights to an independent self-sovereign state. Palestinians have the right to a better future, the right of return, and also the right of resistance.
Welcome again and we hope to see the American people in the streets, the universities and everywhere supporting our just cause. We were really very proud of observing and watching thousands and thousands of Americans in the streets, in the railway stations, at the universities, protesting and demonstrating for the just cause of Palestine and against the genocide and massacres committed by the Israeli regime against our people. By the way this is not our description of the case, this is the ICJ description of the situation on the ground that it is a genocide and it has to be stopped. The children and people of Palestine have the right of a better future. Thank you very much.
Christopher Helali: Thank you very much, Dr. Naim.
Dr. Basem Naim: Before asking brother Osama to talk a little bit about the latest when it comes to the negotiations, I have to say that we Palestinians we believe, yes, we are paying a very, very, high price, a very precious price for this struggle to achieve our goals, but we believe we are on the right way and we will sooner or later achieve our goals. This is the history of a lot of people around the world in Vietnam, in Algeria, in South Africa and other countries.
Unfortunately, we didn’t resort to armed resistance because we are for violence, but they have obliged us when they have blocked any chance for a political solution, they have undermined any chance to reach a solution for this conflict.
But we believe sooner or later we will achieve our goals and we are enjoying enough strength and commitment and we have enough dreams to fulfill in the future. Therefore, inshaAllah [God willing], we will with you celebrate our victory and freedom and independence and self-sovereignty and right of return in Jerusalem, the capital of the free state of Palestine.
Osama Hamdan: When what’s called in Europe the Crusades came to Palestine, we don’t call it a crusade, we call it “the foreigners war,” this is in our books, when they came to Jerusalem, they killed in the first days around 30,000 Palestinians who were living in Jerusalem.
They did not differentiate between a Muslim and a Christian. Christians were killed at the same time. Here is new information that may be shocking for most of the people. The keys of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are in the hands of a Muslim family for more than 1,000 years. They do not differentiate between Muslims and Christians, so they trust each other.
Even the Jewish people, when they came to Palestine in the 18th century, they were not kicked out, they were not treated badly, they were welcomed. We used the word Hawajah; it’s a kind of respect for them, but when they tend to be part of the Zionist strategy as a project, that creates problems, and that happened under the occupation of the British Empire at that time.
Going back to the negotiations, or, what’s called the negotiations, it’s a long period of negotiations, it’s around six months, more than six months, started in fact before even the Paris meeting in February.
But I have to say through that process, we were committed to the main principles which were declared in the Paris meeting: the cease-fire, the complete withdrawal from Gaza, sending the needed aid for the Palestinians, the reconstruction, and to lift the siege on Gaza.
Then we were talking about prisoner’s exchange. Through that process, it was clear that whenever the mediators sent some ideas, the Israelis’ reaction was either to commit new massacres to undermine the process or to add more conditions which maybe were not negotiated before or either negotiated and agreed upon before.
I don’t want to talk about the whole process, we are preparing a paper about that, so I think our brother, Dr. Basem, will send it for you. But we have at least two important steps. The first one, the mediators have sent a proposal at the 5th of May.
We discussed that proposal on the level of the leadership, and we agreed on that. The next day we informed the mediators that it’s okay, we accept the proposal as it is. We have, you know, you can’t have a complete 100% proposal, but at least we felt it’s a good proposal.
The reaction of the Israelis the next day, the 7th of May, was to invade Rafah. They went to Philadelphi, and they put their hands on the crossing point of Rafah. That means a complete siege on Gaza, nothing coming in or getting out of Gaza.
They committed a massacre in Khan Yunis. After three weeks of that, the Israelis sent a new paper with a lot of changes. They said that was their answer for the proposal. Anyway, that was on the 27th of May.
Four days later, President Biden reacted in his famous public speech. He has his own initiative, based on their paper, in fact, more than anything else. But he concentrated on the same principles which we have talked about.
Then there was the International Resolution at the Security Council on the 10th of June. Although we have some problems with some sentences, in general, we felt that it’s a good chance to achieve the goals.
The Israelis did not react. On the 24th of June, the Americans sent a paper, a proposal, through the mediators, based on a Biden initiative and the International Security Council Resolution, and mostly on the Israeli paper.
We discussed the proposal with them, and there were guarantees if we accept some ideas, they will have an acceptance or an agreement from the Israeli side. In general, it was an accepted proposal from Hamas, so we declared our acceptance on the 2nd of July.
What was the reaction of the Israelis? They committed the massacre of al-Mawasi [July 13, 2024]. They claimed that brother Mohammed Deif was there, he wasn’t there, and they knew that they were lying. More than 75 [90] Palestinians were killed.
Al-Mawasi was announced as a safe zone in Gaza, so they killed 75 [90] Palestinians and more than 200 were injured. Then they committed another massacre in Khan Yunis, around 30 Palestinians were killed, and then they assassinated brother Ismail Haniyeh.
They expected that we would say we are not participating in the negotiations anymore. Our reaction, which was told to the mediators, was that, although it was a heavy price, but it was made from the blood of the Palestinians. Brother Ismail Haniyeh is a leader, but we don’t differentiate between Brother Ismail Haniyeh and any Palestinian leader and the people of Palestine. We are still committed, but we want to implement what we have agreed on. It’s your proposal, and we are ready to implement that directly.
On the 8th of August, they had the declaration from President Biden, Sheikh Tamim, and President Sisi. The next day within a few hours, they committed the massacre at the Al-Tabaeen school. They knew that there were no militants, no leaders from Hamas, no senior officials from the Palestinian Authority, but they wanted to sabotage everything.
In this massacre, they killed directly 100 Palestinians. Now the number is around 130, because some people passed away after a few days, and more than 250 Palestinians were injured. No one said anything.
Then they said that they would have a meeting on the 15th of August. Our position was clear. We told the mediators there is no need for more negotiations. We have achieved at least twice a good proposal introduced by the mediators, and each time the Israelis are sabotaging that.
If we follow that process, they will sabotage any proposal at any time. They don’t want to have a cease-fire. They want to continue the genocide. So, it’s your turn as a mediator, not just to provide ideas. You have to make the needed pressure to implement those ideas, especially since there is a side who’s saying, “okay,” and they say “okay,” and then they move to sabotage that on the ground.
(Much, much more at link.)
https://covertactionmagazine.com/2025/0 ... ith-hamas/
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The fight starts over Gaza's next leaders
As Gaza emerges from war, Hamas – politically victorious at immense cost – faces unprecedented challenges in rebuilding the strip. Meanwhile, tenacious foreign powers maneuver to impose their own vision for Gaza's governance.
Ibrahim Al-Madhoun
JAN 24, 2025
Photo Credit: The Cradle
Since the outbreak of Israel's war on the Gaza Strip following Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in October 2023, the occupation state’s primary objective has been to dismantle Hamas as the leading political and governing authority in the besieged enclave.
This US-backed aim reflects Israel’s long-standing unease with Hamas as both a political and military force, given the Palestinian resistance movement's refusal to recognize the unpopular and practically obsolete Oslo Accords and its rejection of the legitimacy of the occupation.
Hamas’s rule in Gaza
Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip since its victory in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, which led to the formation of the 10th Palestinian government under the late, martyred Ismail Haniyeh. However, the political rift between Fatah and Hamas in 2007 resulted in the exclusion of the Palestinian Authority (PA) from Gaza, leaving Hamas in full control of the territory.
Since assuming power, Hamas has endured multiple conflicts with Israel, notably in 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2021, culminating in the 2023 Operation Al-Aqsa Flood – a move that has shaken West Asian and international dynamics, and brought the Palestine issue back to the forefront of the global agenda.
Israel’s strategic dilemma
As the conflict escalated, Israel sought to impose new realities in Gaza, employing several strategies, each of which faced considerable challenges. Initially, the occupation state aimed to invade Gaza and impose direct military rule.
This plan, however, was met with fierce Palestinian resistance, rendering it impossible to achieve sustained control of the strip. The financial and human toll of the war further complicated this approach, with Israel’s expenses estimated at 150 billion shekels (approximately $41.64 billion) and casualties amounting to at least 840 soldiers killed and 14,000 injured. This reality forced the occupation to rethink its strategy.
In an attempt to undermine Hamas’s governance, Israel deliberately targeted Gaza’s administrative and service infrastructures, including government institutions, municipalities, and public facilities.
The destruction was extensive, with a report from the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) in late 2024 estimating that 66 percent of Gaza’s buildings had been damaged or destroyed. Despite this systematic devastation, Hamas demonstrated resilience, maintaining its control of Gaza with relative efficiency by relying on its extensive experience in crisis management.
Israel also tried to exploit Gaza’s tribal and familial networks, attempting to co-opt prominent families and clans to create localized administrative bodies.
This approach, too, was widely rejected by Gaza's population, who viewed it as a thinly veiled effort to legitimize the occupation and fragment the national fabric. Prominent analysts, including Tahani Mustafa of the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank, said Israel was “desperately looking for local clans and families on the ground to work with ... they refuse.”
In parallel, Israel, the US, and allied Arab states have explored alternatives to Hamas’s rule, such as reinstating the PA or establishing an internationally supported technocratic government.
While the PA declared on 16 January its intention to “[form] a crisis cell to work in the Gaza Strip,” Hamas announced its preparations to immediately begin administering the city following the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. The resistance movement stressed that it would not allow the ensuing “chaos and vacuum” in the strip to be exploited.
Meanwhile, the Israeli–American initiatives remain limited in their impact due to the complexities of the Palestinian internal situation, the weakness and unpopularity of the PA, and the mass rejection by Palestinians of a return to the pre-2007 order.
Challenges facing Hamas
Despite Israel’s failure to overthrow Hamas militarily – evidenced by the movement’s strong presence on the battlefield and in the media, particularly during the propagandized handover of three female prisoners in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners – the war has left Hamas grappling with significant challenges on multiple fronts.
The massive destruction inflicted on the Gaza Strip makes the rebuilding of critical infrastructure a top priority for Hamas. This reconstruction effort will require substantial international funding and support, raising concerns about potential external interference that could shape Gaza’s future governance.
Additionally, the ongoing Israeli blockade continues to exacerbate economic hardships in Gaza, placing relentless pressure on Hamas to devise solutions that can sustain the delivery of basic services to the enclave's beleaguered population.
Hamas is also facing mounting pressure from regional and international actors to agree to political arrangements that could require extraordinary concessions. These might include accepting the oversight of an international administration or the deployment of Arab forces to manage a transitional phase in Gaza’s governance.
Possible scenarios for Gaza’s future
Several scenarios have been proposed regarding the future governance of the Gaza Strip, reflecting both internal dynamics and external influences:
Hamas remains confident in its ability to govern the strip despite the destruction and siege. The movement draws on widespread popular support in the region and its intact organizational infrastructure. It has also displayed a degree of flexibility in engaging with the PA and Egypt to explore potential compromises.
Yet efforts – led by Israel and supported by some regional actors – persist to reinstate the PA in Gaza. However, Mahmoud Abbas, Palestine's president and head of Fatah, faces widespread criticism for his weak leadership and collaborative efforts in clamping down on resistance in the West Bank, making this scenario contingent on internal reforms or a change in PA leadership.
The possibility of a power-sharing arrangement between Hamas and the PA further complicates this option, as both sides hold entrenched positions on governance.
Alternatively, Egypt and other regional stakeholders have proposed the establishment of a technocratic committee comprising independent academic and community leaders to manage Gaza’s administration. While this idea has garnered some support from national and community bodies in the enclave, it has been rejected by the PA, which views it as a threat to its political dominance.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority (KAN) reported that Egypt and Israel discussed the establishment of a security inspection mechanism in the Netzarim corridor, which connects the northern and southern parts of the strip.
Arab intervention
The US has also floated the idea of deploying an Arab security force, potentially involving Egypt and the UAE, to oversee Gaza’s transition. It is, at best, a proposal fraught with challenges.
Both Egypt and the UAE – strongly opposed to the Muslim Brotherhood, from which Hamas originates – are cautious about becoming deeply entangled in the Palestinian conflict.
They are particularly wary of the potential for Israel to exploit their involvement as a means to evade its obligations as an occupying power. Moreover, such a scenario risks alienating the Palestinian population and could provoke significant political and public backlash against the participating Arab states.
A potential, albeit challenging, solution involves the formation of a joint national committee comprising representatives from Hamas, Fatah, and other Palestinian factions. This scenario requires a level of political consensus that has been elusive thus far.
Furthermore, external actors, including the US and its allies, are likely to push for an arrangement that aligns with Israel’s strategic interests, complicating efforts to achieve a purely Palestinian-led solution.
In contrast, Hamas finds support from countries such as Iran, Qatar, and Turkiye, which strengthens its position in the face of international pressure.
Towards a comprehensive Palestinian consensus
The future of Gaza remains dependent on the extent to which the Palestinian parties are able to achieve an internal consensus that guarantees inclusive political representation of the Palestinian people. Hamas is showing political flexibility in the context of preserving its national and administrative gains, while the deeply unpopular PA is looking to restore the people’s confidence.
The best option for Palestinians is to move toward a comprehensive reconciliation that rebuilds the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and from which a new leadership emerges that adopts a unified national strategy.
The foundation for that vision was set by the Beijing Declaration last July, when 14 Palestinian political factions committed to the idea of national reconciliation under the auspices of China rather than partisan Arab states.
This scenario, despite its difficulty, remains the ideal solution to avoid external interference and ensure stable and independent management of Gaza in the post-war period.
https://thecradle.co/articles/the-fight ... xt-leaders
Netanyahu signals Israel will remain in south Lebanon after withdrawal deadline
Hezbollah said in an official statement that any breach of the ceasefire deal will ‘not be tolerated’
News Desk
JAN 24, 2025
(Photo credit: AP)
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled in a statement on 24 January that Tel Aviv’s forces will not withdraw from south Lebanon by the end of the 60-day deadline.
“The ceasefire agreement in Lebanon stipulates that the gradual withdrawal of IDF forces will be implemented within 60 days. The section was formulated in this way with the understanding that the withdrawal process could take more than 60 days,” the office's statement said.
“The IDF withdrawal process is conditional on the deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon and its full and effective implementation of the agreement, while Hezbollah withdraws beyond the Litani. Since the ceasefire agreement has not yet been fully implemented by the Lebanese state, the gradual withdrawal process will continue in full coordination with the United States,” it added.
The premier’s office went on to say that Israel “will not endanger its settlements and citizens, and will insist on the full implementation of the goal of the fighting in the north – the safe return of residents to their homes.”
The statement followed a report by Israel’s Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) on Friday, which said that “the political leadership directed the Israeli army yesterday evening, Thursday, not to withdraw at this stage from the eastern sector in southern Lebanon.”
According to KAN, the Israeli army is redeploying in the western sector of south Lebanon.
“Israel is holding talks with the new administration in the United States, to obtain additional time until the complete withdrawal from Lebanon,” the broadcasting corporation stated, echoing what was reported by Haaretz a day earlier.
KAN said the Israeli forces will remain in south Lebanon for “a period of time, ranging from days to weeks.”
Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the decision to stay in southern Lebanon was taken during an Israeli security cabinet meeting on Thursday.
Other media outlets said the cabinet failed to reach a consensus on the matter.
Israel's Channel 12 reported this week that Tel Aviv has requested Donald Trump's approval for the Israeli army to maintain five military points in southern Lebanon.
A Lebanese army source told Al-Araby al-Jadeed on Friday that Lebanon’s Armed Forces (LAF) has not been informed by the ceasefire implementation committee – which is led by the US and includes France – about anything relating to a delay in the Israeli army’s withdrawal.
Hezbollah said in an official statement on 23 January: “As we continue to monitor the developments of the situation, which are supposed to culminate in a full withdrawal in the coming days, we affirm that any breach of the agreement or attempt to evade commitments under weak pretexts will not be tolerated. We call for strict adherence to the agreement, without concessions.”
The ceasefire deal, based on UN Resolution 1701, is meant to see the Lebanese army dismantle Hezbollah’s presence and infrastructure south of the Litani River, while Israeli forces are required to withdraw from the country. This is supposed to take place within the 60-day period that began in late November and is set to end on Sunday, 26 January.
Tel Aviv has accused Hezbollah of failing to abide by the agreement and remaining south of the Litani. Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened earlier this month that “there will be no agreement” if the “condition is not met.”
Israel has violated the agreement over 1,000 times since it took effect.
https://thecradle.co/articles/netanyahu ... l-deadline
PA detains, tortures Palestinians in Jenin as Israel continues deadly assault
Ramallah has intensified its operations around the city of Jenin despite an alleged agreement it reached with the resistance recently
News Desk
JAN 24, 2025
(Photo credit: X)
Palestinian Authority (PA) troops have been detaining and torturing resistance fighters in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, where a joint operation carried out by Israel and Ramallah’s forces has been ongoing for days.
(Photo not found)
Photos of the detainment and torture of Palestinian civilians and resistance fighters in Jenin at the hands of the Palestinian Authority's (PA) forces. The arrests are carried out in parallel with Israel's brutal assault on Jenin Camp. pic.twitter.com/j2dnv9Hc8u
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) January 24, 2025
Photos from 24 January circulating on social media showed young Palestinians in PA custody bruised from being beaten and lying flat on the ground with their hands bound.
Deputy head of Hamas in the West Bank Abdel Hakim Hanini condemned the PA on Friday and said these “scenes that offend human dignity will push the fighters and their families to take revenge on the authority.”
“We would have liked to see the authority’s security forces confronting the settlers, not torturing our children,” Hanini added.
At least 65 Palestinians have been detained by the PA in Jenin over the last few days, while dozens of others have been arrested by Israeli forces.
Hundreds have been displaced from Jenin camp by Israeli army forces and the PA. Thirteen Palestinians have been killed.
Israel launched its large-scale military operation in Jenin on 21 January, coinciding with airstrikes on the city. The operation has been dubbed “Iron Wall,” and came after a deadly six-week siege on Jenin’s refugee camp by PA forces – targeting the Quds Brigades of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement’s Quds Brigades, as well as allied elements of Hamas’s Qassam Brigades and other groups.
The PA reportedly withdrew from Jenin last week as part of a deal reached between Ramallah and the resistance. However, it quickly joined the Israeli operation that started days ago. According to the agreement, PA forces have been given freedom of movement and operation within Jenin camp.
“After the resistance fighters agreed with the PA to allow its security forces to enter the camp for a specific period of time, the resistance fighters decided to withdraw and spread out to different areas of Jenin, fearing the authority’s treachery and pursuit of them inside the camp, and also to stop the bloodshed and prevent bloody clashes if the authority tried to arrest one of the resistance fighters,” sources told Quds News Network (QNN) on Friday.
“The PA security leadership deluded its elements into believing that an agreement had been reached with the resistance fighters, and sought to prevent PA elements from leaking information to the resistance. However, with the start of the military operation by the occupation army, decisions were made that the PA must monitor the villages and towns of Jenin, including medical centers, the outskirts of villages, abandoned houses, mosques, and the homes of liberated prisoners,” they went on to say.
The PA security services have “intensified their operations in the Jenin countryside,” the sources added.
https://thecradle.co/articles/pa-detain ... ly-assault
