"France raised its terror threat alert to the highest level last Friday after a knife-wielding man of Chechen origin killed a teacher and injured three other people at a school in northern France. Officials described the killing as an Islamist terror attack. The murder put President Macron’s government under severe pressure as officials acknowledged that the main suspect in the attack and various members of his family had been identified by French intelligence services as radicalized or had been convicted on terrorism charges. Should we be concerned about another wave of terror in Europe caused by Islamic extremism? To delve more into the topic, we were joined by Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler, Senior Director of the Counter Extremism Project."

"Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler said that the militant group’s strategic aim is to create ‘horrific’ imagery from the Palestinian territory that will prompt other forces to enter the fray.  

The senior director of the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) spoke after Israel told 1.1 million people in northern Gaza to evacuate their homes as it ramps up its military response to Hamas’s mass incursion nine days ago."

"'These bans are one of the most important instruments a democracy has to prevent money flowing to terrorist organizations,' Hans-Jakob Schindler from the transatlantic think tank Counter Extremism Project (CEP) told DW. However, he added: 'It is always difficult, because in Germany associations and non-profit organizations enjoy a certain degree of protection, and investigations by authorities such as the Office for the Protection of the Constitution are limited when it comes to finances.'

The line is crossed when violence is openly called for or endorsed. 'As long as individuals restrain themselves in this regard, it will be very difficult,' Schindler explained, adding that suspects usually pay close attention to what they say, so as not to attract attention from the authorities."

"'Hamas has been very well prepared for this and has created professional systems to get their message out,' said Josh Lipowsky, a senior research analyst at the Counter Extremism Project, an advocacy group in Washington that tracks online extremism.

Hamas’ warning of execution broadcasts suggests the group is pushing for a more accelerated style of terror propaganda, Lipowsky said.

'The value is to demoralize,' he said. 'It is a form of emotional warfare. It is Hamas looking to break the spirits of Israelis and the global Jewish community.'"
 

CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed about the financing of Hamas by supporters in Germany and action by the German government. 

[Translated from German] "'These bans are one of the most important instruments a democracy has to prevent money from flowing to terrorist organizations' Hans-Jakob Schindler from the transatlantic think tank Counter Extremism Project (CEP) told DW. But: 'It is always difficult because in Germany clubs and non-profit organizations enjoy a certain level of protection when it comes to their activities, and investigations by important authorities such as the Office for the Protection of the Constitution when it comes to finances are limited.'"

"Hamas był na to bardzo dobrze przygotowany i stworzył profesjonalne systemy, aby przekazać swoje przesłanie - powiedział Josh Lipowsky, analityk w Counter Extremism Project, organizacji z Waszyngtonu zajmującej się śledzeniem ekstremizmu w Internecie."

"While leader of Hamas' political branch, Mashaal was based in Qatar, where he still lives. According to the Counter Extremism Project, he is now leader of Hamas' diaspora office."