Kelly Campa, Siddhant Kishore, Carolyn Moorman, Ria Reddy, Ben Rezaei, Katherine Wells, Johanna Moore, Avery Borens, Victoria Penza, and Brian Carter

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Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) released three Israeli hostages during the third hostage release on January 30. Hamas released a female soldier hostage in the northern Gaza Strip. Hamas transferred her to the International Committee of the Red Cross in the eastern Jabalia refugee camp. PIJ released two Israeli civilian hostages in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. Hamas also released five Thai hostages on January 30. Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange. The ceasefire agreement requires Hamas to release an additional three Israeli hostages on February 1.

Hamas attempted to signal that it retains the ability to coordinate and communicate with other Palestinian militias in the Gaza Strip. Several Palestinian militias, including Hamas, the Palestinian Resistance Committee, and the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement accompanied PIJ as it released two Israeli hostages in Khan Younis on January 30. Hamas claimed that the presence of these militias “confirms the unity” among these groups. The release of the two hostages comes after PIJ failed to release an Israeli hostage on January 25. CTP-ISW assessed on January 27 that PIJ’s failure to release the hostage on January 25 is unlikely to be the result of a rift between Hamas and PIJ. The militias could face challenges due to weakened institutional coordination mechanisms between the militias after months of IDF operations.

Key Takeaways:

• Gaza Strip: Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) released three Israeli hostages during the third hostage release on January 30. Hamas attempted to signal that it retains the ability to coordinate and communicate with other Palestinian militias in the Gaza Strip.

• Iraq: The presence of Iranian-backed Iraqi militias in the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) will likely not reduce the threat that these militias pose to the United States and its partners in the Middle East. Some Iranian-backed Iraqi militias and their political wings have reportedly considered a negotiated settlement in which the militias would integrate into the PMF in return for political appointments.

• Lebanon: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted an unarmed reconnaissance drone in Lebanon as it flew toward Israel on January 30. Lebanese Hezbollah has not mentioned the drone or claimed it as a Hezbollah drone at the time of this writing.

• Syria: Syrian Interim President Ahmed al Shara said that Syrian sovereignty “under one authority and on one land” is a priority of the HTS-led interim government on January 30. Shara promised to appoint an interim legislative council until a new constitution is drafted and announced the formation of a preparatory committee for the National Dialogue Conference, which will reportedly represent “different points of view.”

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