1) At the National Review, Jonathan Schanzer and Natalie Ecanow ask ‘Why Does Qatar Keep Helping Terrorists?’.
“Doha is eager to end the war in a manner that will ensure Hamas’s survival. This is hardly surprising considering that Qatar has showered Hamas with hundreds of millions of dollars and sheltered the group’s senior leaders for over a decade.”
2) At the Moshe Dayan Center, Eitan Ishai discusses ‘Hizballah’s Identity Crisis in the Wake of Nasrallah’s Assassination’.
“Despite his reputation as a shrewd strategist, Nasrallah miscalculated on every front. He clung to mutual deterrence and long-standing formulas but failed to recognize Israel’s evolving strategy in the weeks leading up to his assassination. Thus, Nasrallah’s death symbolizes one of the greatest strategic miscalculations in the history of the Israeli-Arab conflict. This miscalculation stemmed from the inherent dilemma within Hizballah’s conflicting identities, as both a resistance movement committed to mutual deterrence and a political entity operating within a changing domestic environment, which Nasrallah ultimately failed to adapt to. Over the past year, his strategy reflects an attempt to balance these conflicting identities, ultimately failing to understand that the strategic “rules of the game” had shifted.”
3) MEMRI provides documentation of Hamas framing of the return of evacuees to the northern area of the Gaza Strip.
“As part of this narrative, Hamas officials have been drawing a link between the return of the residents to the northern Gaza Strip – which began on January 27, 2025 as part of the ceasefire agreement – to the “great return” of the Palestinian refugees and their descendants to their homes inside Israel.”
4) At the Alma Center, Boaz Shapira discusses ‘Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Visit to Saudi Arabia and Turkey’.
“These visits are very important for al-Sharaa and Syria because they have the potential to shape the country’s future. First, al-Sharaa wants to increase his legitimacy as a leader and secure the support of regional countries for the new regime in Syria. His visits outside Syria as the country’s leader and his reception by prominent leaders in the region contribute to establishing his status and strengthening him. In this context, it is important to note that in recent weeks, many diplomatic delegations from around the world have visited Syria, including the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who visited the country on January 30.”
5) The ITIC reports on the ‘Activities of Saeed Izadi, Head of the Qods Forces’ “Palestine Branch,” Reflected in Captured Documents’.
“Hamas documents seized by the IDF during the Gaza Strip War exposed Izadi’s critical role in building the “resistance axis” in accordance with the plans of former Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani, under Iranian leadership and in partnership with Hezbollah, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The documents showed how over the years Izadi became a key figure in orchestrating Hamas decisions, influenced its leaders and was involved in strategic moves leading up to the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre.”
