"The threats - then as now - always have to be understood on two levels, explains Middle East and terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler from the Counter Extremism Project (CEP). On the one hand, it is a clear message to those behind the Hamas attacks that they should no longer be secure in their lives, no matter where in the world they are. On the other hand, the Israeli government's statements are also reassurance for its own population..."

“…However, according to the senior director at the international Counter Extremism Project, only some fighters have given up so far. There is probably an understanding among them that 'things will not end well for them.' Not everyone is prepared to die as a martyr. But Schindler warns against interpreting this too broadly as the end of Hamas. 'The conflict is not yet over. There are still enough fighters who do not surrender.'"

CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed: "This is an extraordinary, difficult endeavor because there is this still functioning underground system in particular in the southern half of Gaza. But Sinwar really is the key leader to get here. He was, from the very beginning, part of setting up the terrorist structure of Hamas from 1988 onwards. He was also the founder of the Gaza Hamas intelligence organization that hunts what they call collaborators, those who collaborate with Israel, and executes with them." 

"Qatar has played a major role in getting Israeli hostages out of Gaza, but it’s facing growing pressure to distance itself from Hamas.

In this week’s episode of “The Hunt with WTOP national security correspondent J.J. Green”, Fran Townsend, president of the Counter Extremism Project, says her organization believes Qatar is harboring terrorists."

CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed on DW News: "There is no direct contact. So this goes via Qatar... they're going between Israel and Hamas." 

CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed on DW News: "Israel and militant Islamist group Hamas have agreed to extend a temporary truce by another day minutes before it was set to expire, Israel and mediator Qatar have confirmed. Qatar and Israel said the truce would continue under the existing framework where Hamas, considered a terror group by several countries, released 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for Israel releasing 30 Palestinian prisoners."

"'Hamas wants these images, it produces these images , it causes the dead civilians in order to serve the narrative, to illustrate the narrative: Israel is completely disproportionate and is taking revenge on the Palestinian people,' explains Hans Jakob Schindler to contrasts. The senior director of the international organization Counter Extremism Project is based in Berlin and researches terror strategies."