Weekend long read

1) At The Hill, Arsen Ostrovsky, John Spencer and Brian L. Cox discuss Hamas’ exploitation of hospitals.

“To date, the World Health Organization has not condemned Hamas for the systematic use of hospitals in Gaza for military purposes. The global call to Hamas should be stop putting hospitals in danger. Many ignore that Hamas has systematically dismantled the health system in Gaza, with the acquiescence of an international community that refuses to call it out.”

2) At the JISS, Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak explains how ‘Turkey’s Vision Transforms Post-Assad Syria’.

“The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime – brought about by Syrian opposition forces with Turkey’s backing – has created an unprecedented opportunity for Ankara to redefine its role as a regional power in line with its broader Neo-Ottoman aspirations. By championing the Sunni opposition and dismantling the Alawite-led regime, Turkey has succeeded in shifting the Mideast balance of power, installing in Damascus a regime dependent on Turkey and curbing the influence of rivals such as Iran and Russia.”

3) The ITIC reports on ‘Weapons Used by Hezbollah Against Israel, October 8, 2023 to November 27, 2024’.

“The variety of weapons used by Hezbollah reflected the organization’s advanced military capabilities acquired in the years between the Second Lebanon War in 2006 and the start of the fighting in October 2023, as well as its operational capabilities against Israel, both near the border and in its ability to threaten targets deep within Israel. Despite the extensive damage inflicted by the IDF on Hezbollah’s weapons capabilities during the current conflict, in ITIC assessment the organization still possesses capabilities and knowledge which will enable it to continue posing a threat unless it is completely disarmed throughout Lebanon.”

4) At the Alma Center, Boaz Shapira reports on “The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria”.

“On December 17, 2024, the Syrian National Socialist Party (SNSP) issued an official statement announcing the establishment of the “Southern Liberation Front” (on January 11, 2025, the name was changed to “The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria”…).

According to the statement, this organization was established to protect the Syrian people and push Israel out of Syrian territory. The SNSP also voiced its objection to Israel’s presence and activities in Syria, criticizing the prevailing silence on this issue both within Syria and across the Arab world.”

5) At the INSS, Carmit Valensi analyses ‘A New Era in Syria’.

“Although HTS has undergone a process of relative moderation in recent years, there are concerns that an extreme religious ideology will take over, or, at the very least, that authoritarian patterns of governance will be adopted. Moreover, even if al-Sharaa has genuinely embraced moderation, he is still surrounded by extremists in both the political and military leadership, which could hinder his efforts in charting a new course and stabilizing Syria’s complex political landscape.”

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