1) At the JISS, Dr Pnina Shuker and Dr Ariel Admoni assess Qatari Involvement in Phase II of the Gaza Strip ceasefire.
“To illustrate Qatar’s dominance within President Trump’s vision for the “day after” in the Gaza Strip, several channels through which Qatar has operated will be examined: the political-diplomatic sphere, reconstruction and rebuilding efforts, the business sphere, the administrative sphere, humanitarian assistance, education, and media activity. As we show below, activity in one domain lays the groundwork for activity in others.”
2) At the FDD, Toby Dershowitz and Eitan Fischberger discuss the Al Jazeera Centre for Studies.
“AJCS is one of at least a dozen parts of the Al Jazeera Media Network’s ecosystem, funded and run by the Qatari ruling family, and used as soft power tools to amplify anti-Western and pro-Islamist narratives. Established to provide research support to Al Jazeera’s news channels, AJCS also serves to integrate the network into academic spheres.”
3) NGO Monitor reports on Hamas’ World Vision Operative and the Campaign to Obstruct His Trial – a story previously covered by the BBC and other UK outlets.
“Documents retrieved from Hamas’ Ministry of Interior and National Security (MoINS) in Gaza demonstrate that international NGO World Vision’s former director of Gaza operations, Mohammed el Halabi – who was convicted by Israel for diverting aid to Hamas – was an operative for the terror group. As seen in the documents, Hamas prioritized obstructing the case and disrupting Israel’s investigation, viewing the arrest and trial as a major breach of internal security. The evidence highlights the process by which Hamas closely monitored closed-door Israeli court proceedings, identified and interrogated suspected “leakers” in Gaza, and acted to prevent potential witnesses from reaching Israel in order to testify.”
4) At the INSS, Yoel Guzansky looks at Saudi–UAE Relations.
“Relations between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have shifted in recent years from a close partnership to open competition over leadership, prestige, and regional influence. Behind the façade of “Gulf unity” lies a deep rift stemming from differing threat perceptions and a struggle for economic and regional primacy. The rise of Mohammed bin Salman and the Saudi aspiration to lead the Arab world clash with Abu Dhabi’s activist foreign policy, which has sought to free itself from Saudi hegemony.”
5) At the ICT, Dr Michael Barak reports on The Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood Diaspora in Turkey and Transnational Ties and Connections with the Hamas Leadership.
“…the Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood continues to maintain its historical ties with Hamas, even from exile in Turkey. These links are further strengthened by leveraging the political, economic, and logistical infrastructure provided by the Turkish regime under Erdoğan’s leadership. The symbiosis between the interests of Turkey, the Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood, and Hamas has created an efficient and extensive support network that integrates ostensibly humanitarian activities with the financing and support of a terrorist organization.”
