Hamas released three living male hostages, including one Israeli-American hostage, on February 1. Hamas released two hostages in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, and one hostage at the Gaza Port, in the northern Gaza Strip. This marked the first hostage release at the Gaza Port. Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners into the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and Egypt. Eighteen of the 183 prisoners whom Israel released were serving life sentences and 100 were being held without trial in Israel following Hamas’ October 7 attack. The IDF dropped leaflets and warned Palestinians against marches and demonstrations in favor of Hamas in the West Bank following the release of prisoners.
The Rafah border crossing resumed operations on February 1 in compliance with the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported 50 sick or wounded Palestinians exited via the crossing to Egypt for treatment on February 1. The Israeli Shin Bet and Egypt review and approve each person in advance. The IDF withdrew from the Rafah crossing to the neighboring Philadelphi corridor on January 31 and will maintain a presence around the crossing. Staffers from the Palestinian Authority and the European Union assumed responsibility for the administrative affairs associated with the crossing. Axios reported this marked the first Palestinian Authority activity in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas takeover of the strip in 2007.
CTP-ISW has recorded no verifiable reports of kinetic activity in the Gaza Strip or attacks from the Gaza Strip into Israel since the last data cutoff on January 31.
Pro-Assad Syrian Popular Resistance fighters claimed an attack on IDF soldiers in Taranja, Quneitra Province, on February 1. The Syrian Popular Resistance claimed that its fighters observed Israeli forces operating in the area and conducted an opportunistic attack. The Syrian Popular Resistance claimed the attack resulted in several IDF casualties. The IDF confirmed that unspecified fighters attacked its forces and that the IDF returned fire. The IDF denied that its forces suffered any casualties in the attack. This is the first Syrian Popular Resistance-claimed attack targeting Israeli forces since it announced its existence on December 31, 2024. The Syrian Popular Resistance has claimed attacks over the past several weeks targeting HTS forces. It remains unclear whether the group has had any real involvement in these attacks beyond claiming the attacks on social media, however.
Key Takeaways:
- Gaza Strip: Hamas released three living male hostages, including one Israeli-American hostage, on February 1. The Rafah border crossing also resumed operations on February 1 in compliance with the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement.
- Iraq: Iranian-backed Iraqi State of Law Coalition head Nouri al Maliki made anti-Sunni sectarian statements after Sunni politicians recently raised long-held Sunni political demands. Shia political parties have long manipulated the Accountability and Justice Commission to target political opponents, including Sunnis, and Maliki himself has used “terrorists” to describe his Sunni political opponents to discredit legitimate political opposition as members of al Qaeda in Iraq or ISIS.
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