CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed at 30:09 regarding Hamas strategy and tactics, for WELT TV documentary on the 7th of October: Two years after the Hamas massacre, Constantin Schreiber returns to Israel. He meets survivors, hostages, and politicians—and discovers a country searching for answers amid grief, protest, and hope.

Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler, Director of the Counter Extremism Project, describes the arrests of the Hamas cell in 2023 as a "turning point". "Its members had already deposited weapons in Europe years before. Anyone storing weapons in Poland or Bulgaria is certainly not doing so for use in the Gaza Strip," Schindler told WELT AM SONNTAG. This points to an overarching strategy that could be activated if necessary. The connection to criminal gangs follows a well-known logic. "The relationships between organized crime and terrorist organizations are often structural," explains Schindler. Such connections are not atypical, especially when it comes to procuring weapons. In most cases, terrorist organizations rely on criminal networks to obtain weapons - whether through smuggling or the black market.

According to Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler, the arrests show that the risk of Hamas attacks in Germany remains high. "The initial investigations seem to confirm that the Islamist organization planted terrorists in Germany years ago," says the senior director and head of the Berlin office of the international Counter Extremism Project. Hamas operates with a high degree of professionalism. "The members of the terror cells, for example, try to act as inconspicuously as possible so as not to come to the attention of the security services." This includes not appearing as activists at propaganda events, for example. In addition, two of the suspected attackers who have now been arrested have taken German citizenship.

German security authorities have arrested a cell in Berlin, with the suspects said to be acting on behalf of the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas. Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler is interviewed on the unfolding story (starts at 4:32).

Shortly after the arrest of three suspected Hamas supporters in Berlin, a deadly attack on visitors to a synagogue in Manchester, England, occurred. Terrorism expert [CEP Senior Director] Hans-Jakob Schindler assesses the threat situation and reflects on the renewed debate about easier passport confiscation.

Counter Extremism Project Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed: Israel's ground assault on Gaza City is supposed to wipe out Hamas's remaining strongholds. But the group has shown remarkable resilience over nearly two years of war and may even be gaining new recruits.

 

CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed: "Israel has carried out a strike targeting the leadership of Hamas in Qatar. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the strike. Qatar has condemned the incident as a 'cowardly Israeli attack'. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the strike was a violation of Qatar's sovereignty."

CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed on the situation in Gaza and Hamas. "Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Germany will suspend arms exports to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip. It marks a major shift for the German government, which has been one of Israel's staunchest allies and largest arms suppliers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the decision. It comes after Israel announced plans to take control of Gaza City, sparking widespread condemnation both internationally and at home."