Middle East Experience

Some Israelis felt relief with the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, even as the fate of nearly 100 hostages in Gaza still stirred anxiety.Israeli authorities long accused Sinwar of masterminding the October 7 attack, the deadliest in the country's history.Hamas militants overran portions of southern Israel, shooting people, storming military bases and attacking a music festival where they killed at least 370 people.It was an unprecedented attack that deeply shook the country.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Relief, anxiety in Israel after Sinwar's killing

It turns out that most Hamas government offices are still functioning, and in many cases, they continue to provide services to civilians.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Despite IDF's year-long operation, Hamas offices continue to operate

G7 defence ministers convened Saturday against a backdrop of escalation in the Middle East and mounting pressure on Ukraine as it faces another winter of fighting.Italy, holding the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven countries, organised the body's first ministerial meeting dedicated to defence, staged in Naples, the southern city that is also home to a NATO base.Invited to the one-day talks were NATO chief Mark Rutte and the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: G7 defence summit considers Gaza, Lebanon as conflicts rage

Slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was seen as a key obstacle to any agreement on the Israeli hostages seized during the October 7 attack that he orchestrated.With his group plunged into a leadership vacuum by his death, the future of hostage negotiations appears to have become even more complicated.Hamas now needs to appoint a replacement, and that person will play a key role in determining the fate of the Israelis kept hostage since its attack on October 7, 2023.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Sinwar's death clouds path to freeing Israeli hostages

Hezbollah said it fired rockets at northern Israel, including at a military base near the city of Haifa on Saturday after the Israeli army reported a barrage of projectiles launched from Lebanon.A "large salvo" of advanced rockets hit a military base east of Haifa, said Hezbollah, which has vowed to intensify attacks on Israel weeks into an all-out war that erupted on September 23.The Iran-backed group also said it fired a rocket salvo on the northern town of Safed after the Israeli army reported 115 projectiles launched from Lebanon targeting the country on Saturday.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Hezbollah says fires rocket salvo at northern Israel

Awaiting Israel's promised retaliation for a missile attack earlier this month, Iran has balanced threats of a fierce response to any Israeli attack with diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation into all-out regional war.Iran launched 200 missiles at its arch-foe on October 1 in response to an Israeli strike that killed Iranian general Abbas Nilforoushan and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut late last month.The missile barrage was also in retaliation for Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran in July in an attack widely blamed on Israel.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Threats and diplomacy: Iran's dual strategy on Israel

During the operations, the IDF allowed civilians to safely evacuate from the area via organized routes, and hundreds of people left the area. 
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: 'Sinwar's barrier of fear is broken': Hundreds of civilians safely evacuate from Jabalya, Gaza

Prof. Amatzia Baram explains how a Hezbollah drone strike near Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence highlights Iran’s growing influence in the conflict.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Iran's symbolic message behind drone attack on Netanyahu's home

According to reports, there is near consensus on keeping the name of the next leader secret both by Hamas leaders in Gaza and abroad. 
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Hamas to conceal name of Sinwar's successor over assassination fears

Two other IDF soldiers were wounded during combat in the northern Gaza Strip and the northern border.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: IDF announces fallen soldiers Ofir Berkovich, Elishai Young, killed in northern Gaza Strip