“An Israeli hostage freed by Hamas said in an interview that she was initially
fed well in captivity until conditions worsened and people became hungry. She
was kept in a “suffocating” room and slept on plastic chairs with a sheet for
nearly 50 days. In one of the first interviews with a freed hostage,
78-year-old Ruti Munder told Israel’s Channel 13 television that she spent the
entirety of her time with her daughter, Keren, and grandson, Ohad
Munder-Zichri, who celebrated his ninth birthday in captivity. Her account,
broadcast Monday, adds to the trickle of information about the experience of
captives held in Gaza. Munder was snatched Oct. 7 from her home in Nir Oz, a
kibbutz in southern Israel. Her husband, Avraham, also 78, was taken hostage
too and remains in Gaza. Her son was killed in the attack. Initially, they ate
“chicken with rice, all sorts of canned food and cheese,” Munder told Channel
13, in an audio interview. “We were OK.” They were given tea in the morning and
evening, and the children were given sweets. But the menu changed when “the
economic situation was not good, and people were hungry.” Israel has maintained
a tight siege on Gaza since the war erupted, leading to shortages of food, fuel
and other basic items.”











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Eye on Extremism



November 28, 2023



Associated Press: Freed Israeli Hostage Describes Deteriorating Conditions
While Being Held By Hamas
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“An Israeli hostage freed by Hamas said in an interview that she was initially
fed well in captivity until conditions worsened and people became hungry. She
was kept in a “suffocating” room and slept on plastic chairs with a sheet for
nearly 50 days. In one of the first interviews with a freed hostage,
78-year-old Ruti Munder told Israel’s Channel 13 television that she spent the
entirety of her time with her daughter, Keren, and grandson, Ohad
Munder-Zichri, who celebrated his ninth birthday in captivity. Her account,
broadcast Monday, adds to the trickle of information about the experience of
captives held in Gaza. Munder was snatched Oct. 7 from her home in Nir Oz, a
kibbutz in southern Israel. Her husband, Avraham, also 78, was taken hostage
too and remains in Gaza. Her son was killed in the attack. Initially, they ate
“chicken with rice, all sorts of canned food and cheese,” Munder told Channel
13, in an audio interview. “We were OK.” They were given tea in the morning and
evening, and the children were given sweets. But the menu changed when “the
economic situation was not good, and people were hungry.” Israel has maintained
a tight siege on Gaza since the war erupted, leading to shortages of food, fuel
and other basic items.”



Voice Of America: Pakistan Says Afghan Suicide Bomber Attacked Military Convoy
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“Pakistan confirmed Monday that an overnight suicide bombing of a military
convoy in a northwestern region had killed two civilians. The military’s media
wing reported that Sunday’s attack in Bannu, a garrison district in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province, had also injured seven civilians and three soldiers. The
army statement said a “motorcycle-borne suicide bomber… exploded himself” near
the convoy, adding that a post-attack search operation was underway “to
eliminate any other terrorists found in the area.” The bomber was identified as
an Afghan national affiliated with the anti-state Hafiz Gul Bahadur militant
group, known as a close ally of Afghanistan’s ruling Islamist Taliban.
Separately, an overnight military statement said that an “intelligence-based”
raid in the province’s turbulent South Waziristan district near the Afghan
border killed eight “terrorists.” Sunday’s raid targeted a hideout of the
banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, which routinely plots attacks on
security forces. Pakistan says TTP and other fugitive militants operating out
of sanctuaries in Afghanistan have dramatically intensified attacks since the
Taliban returned to power in the neighboring country two years ago. Authorities
have confirmed that Afghan militants carried out at least 16 suicide bombings
this year in collaboration with the TTP, also known as the Pakistani Taliban.”



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CEP Mentions



Deutsche Wells: Why Germany Banned Hamas And Pro-Palestinian Group Samidoun
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“..."These types of bans are one of the most important instruments a democracy
has at its disposal to stop money from flowing to terrorist organizations,"
Hans-Jakob Schindler of the transatlantic think tank Counter Extremism Project
(CEP) told DW. But, "it is always difficult because associations and non-profit
organizations in Germany enjoy a certain degree of protection when it comes to
their activities, and there are even limits to the investigations of important
authorities such as the BfV when it comes to finances." Under German law, the
line is crossed when people openly call for, or advocate, violence and Hamas
supporters are usually careful about what they say in public, so as not to
alert the authorities. Hamas does not recognize the state of Israel and,
according to its own statements, aims to destroy it. Several associations close
to the movement were banned several years ago. "Hamas sees Western countries
such as Germany as a refuge in which the organization can concentrate on
collecting donations, recruiting new supporters, and spreading its propaganda,"
reads a 2022 report by the BfV.” According to intelligence agencies, the
Samidoun organization belongs to the radical Palestinian organization PFLP
(Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine). The PFLP also propagates armed
struggle against Israel, but unlike Hamas, it is not religiously affiliated.”



The National News: Fears Over Threat To Free Speech As Europe Restricts
Pro-Palestine Protests
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“... Former diplomat Hans-Jakob Schindler, of the Counter Extremism Project,
said Germany's measures show that to be treated as a potential threat groups no
longer have to openly call for violence. “Of course, support for Hamas, or
attempts to support Hamas, will not necessarily stop in Germany but every time
you have one of these bans it makes it more difficult, it makes it harder, it
makes it riskier for individuals,” he said. Courts prevented the government
imposing blanket bans, so it instead circumnavigated existing legislation to
prohibit rallies on a case-by-case basis under the guise that they pose a
potential risk to public order. Incitement to hatred and the burning of Israeli
flags “are not examples of people embracing their freedoms. These are crimes”,
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. Germany's government is also
seeking legal changes to punish people who criticise Israel and is reviewing
the law on incitement to give it the power to strip people of citizenship if
they support Hamas. Officials in Berlin gave schools the power to ban
Palestinian keffiyeh headscarves and imagery of the map of Israel in the
colours of Palestine. France stepped back from a blanket ban on marches but
relinquished power to local authorities to assess whether it would cause a
potential risk to public order.”



The Times: Hamas Confirms Killing Of Top Commander In Gaza
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“…According to the Washington-based Counter Extremism project, in addition to
being a key figure in the October 7 attacks , Ghandour has been behind a number
of terror attacks against Israelis and survived at least two assassination
attempts dating back to 2002 and 2012.”



The Street Journal: Why Hamas And Samidoun Were Banned In Germany
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“…“These type of bans are one of the most important instruments a democracy
has at its disposal to stop money from flowing to terrorist organizations,”
Hans-Jakob Schindler of the transatlantic think tank Counter Extremism Project
(CEP) told DW. But, "it is always difficult because associations and non-profit
organizations in Germany enjoy a certain degree of protection when it comes to
their activities, and there are even limits to the investigations of important
authorities such as the BfV when it comes to finances."



Sky News: Israel-Hamas War: Have Hostages Gone Missing In Gaza?
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“…Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director at the transatlantic thinktank the
Counter Extremism Project, says the situation is "terribly unclear". "It's
important to note that Islamic Jihad and Hamas don't have a co-operative
relationship - they're actually competitors," he tells Sky News. "So it's not
entirely clear if Hamas can get Islamic Jihad to release any of the hostages it
may be holding. "And it seems it wasn't just them and Hamas involved in the 7
October attack.”



Iran



The Washington Examiner: US Troops In Iraq And Syria Experience Lull In
Attacks By Iranian Proxies
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“Iranian proxies have not attacked U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria in recent
days following dozens of attacks over the past few weeks, according to the
Department of Defense. Those U.S. troops, which are in the region to ensure the
lasting defeat of the Islamic State, have come under attack 66 times, with 32
coming in Iraq and 34 in Syria since Oct. 17 by Iranian proxy groups in the
area. There haven't been any attacks since Nov. 23, though, Brig. Gen. Patrick
Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, confirmed to reporters on Monday. More than 60 U.S.
troops have been injured in the attacks, while about half of them were
diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries, though they have all since returned to
duty. U.S. troops have responded with defensive strikes against various
facilities used by the proxies launching the attacks. Last week, the United
States carried out strikes in Iraq after proxy forces launched a close-range
ballistic missile at the al Asad Air Base, injuring eight people, U.S. Central
Command said at the time. Immediately after the attack, a U.S. AC-130 gunship
fired at a vehicle Pentagon officials said was carrying militia members, and
several were killed. The gunship fired on the vehicle because they determined
they were responsible for launching the close-range ballistic missiles.”



Iraq



Reuters: Iraq Sees Risk Of Regional Conflict If Gaza War Resumes
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“Iraq sees a risk of regional conflict if the current truce in Gaza is not
turned into a permanent ceasefire, the Iraqi prime minister's foreign affairs
adviser said, as mediators sought an extension of the temporary four-day
Israel-Hamas truce. Israel's devastating bombardment of Gaza in response to
Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel has drawn in Iran-aligned armed groups in the
region including Lebanese Hezbollah and several Iraqi factions, who have
mounted near-daily attacks on Israeli and U.S. forces. But there have been no
reports of attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq or Syria since Israel and Hamas began
a four-day truce last week that was set to expire on Monday, compared to over
70 in the weeks prior. Some of the main Iraqi armed factions behind the recent
attacks, including Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada and Kataeb Hezbollah, have
announced they will abide by the Gaza ceasefire but indicated they would resume
attacks if it ends. They have also said in statements that they still seek the
eventual ouster of U.S. forces in Iraq. There are around 2,500 U.S. troops on a
mission the U.S. says is to advise and assist Iraqi forces battling remnants of
Islamic State. "The entire region is on the verge of a devastating conflict
that may include everyone, and the extent of its expansion or how to control
and stop it is not known," said Farhad Alaadin, foreign affairs adviser to
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.”



Lebanon



Reuters: Lebanese Media Reports Israeli Shell Hit South Lebanon
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“Lebanese media reported that an Israeli shell struck the outskirts of a town
in south Lebanon on Tuesday, hours after a temporary truce between the
Palestinian group Hamas and Israel was extended for two days. A spokesperson
for the Israeli army said it was "currently not aware of such an incident".
Lebanon's state-owned National News Agency and the Lebanese broadcaster
al-Jadeed reported an Israeli shell had struck the outskirts of the town of
Aita al-Shaab on Tuesday morning. Both outlets cited their correspondents as
the source. Weeks of cross-border shelling between Israel and the Lebanese
armed group Hezbollah came to a halt on Friday when the Palestinian group Hamas
- a Hezbollah ally - and Israel agreed the temporary truce in their conflict
which erupted on Oct. 7. A spokesperson for the U.N. peacekeeping force in
Lebanon UNIFIL said it was looking into the reports.”



Middle East



NBC: Truce Extended By Two Days, Qatar Says
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“Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend a temporary truce for an additional
two days on the pause’s fourth and last day, Hamas and Qatari mediators
announced. Hamas will free 20 more women and children during the pause in
fighting, the Pentagon’s top spokesman told reporters today. Today, Hamas
released 11 hostages. In exchange, Israel released 33 Palestinian prisoners. An
extension could mean more hostages are released from Gaza in exchange for
Palestinian prisoners and a halt in fighting. Israel has said it would extend
the cease-fire by a day for every 10 additional hostages who are released.
Israel also said it reached an agreement with tech billionaire Elon Musk to
bring his SpaceX company’s Starlink communications to the Gaza Strip, Reuters
reported. Musk has proposed using Starlink to support communication links in
the blackout-hit Gaza enclave with “internationally recognized aid
organizations.” As 11 hostages were freed by Hamas militants tonight and 33
were released by Israel earlier, more of these exchanges were expected under a
two-day cease-fire extension scheduled through Thursday morning. National
Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Hamas has committed to releasing 20
women and children through the end of the extension.”



Associated Press: US Tells Israel Any Ground Campaign In Southern Gaza Must
Limit Further Civilian Displacement
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“The Biden administration has told Israel that it must work to avoid
“significant further displacement” of Palestinian civilians in southern Gaza if
it renews its ground campaign aimed at eradicating the Hamas militant group,
senior U.S. officials said. The administration, seeking to avoid more
large-scale civilian casualties or mass displacement like that seen before the
current temporary pause in the fighting, underscored to the Israelis that they
must operate with far greater precision in southern Gaza than they did in the
north, the officials said, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity under
ground rules set by the White House. Amid mounting international and domestic
pressure about the rising Palestinian death toll, the White House has begun to
put greater pressure on Israel that the manner of the coming campaign must be
“carefully thought through,” according to one of the officials. The Israelis
have been receptive when administration officials have raised these concerns,
the official said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made clear that
Israeli Defense Forces will eventually restart military operations after the
conclusion of the current, temporary cease-fire that has allowed for an
exchange of hostages taken by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The two sides agreed Monday to extend the truce for an additional two days and
to continue swapping hostages for prisoners.”



Somalia



Reuters: Somali Pirates Likely Behind Attempted Tanker Seizure -US military
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“An attempted hijacking of a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday
appears to have been carried out by armed Somali pirates and not Yemeni
Houthis, despite the firing of missiles from Houthi-controlled territory in
Yemen afterwards, the Pentagon said on Monday. "We're continuing to assess, but
initial indications are that these five individuals are Somali," said Pentagon
spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder. "Clearly a piracy related
incident," Ryder added. A U.S. Navy warship responded to a distress call on
Sunday from the chemical tanker Central Park. The attackers were taken aboard
the U.S. warship Mason, the U.S. military said, and the Central Park and its
crew were safe. There have been a series of attacks in Middle Eastern waters
since a war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas broke out
on Oct. 7. Central Park, a tanker managed by Zodiac Maritime Ltd, a
London-headquartered international ship management company owned by Israel's
Ofer family. The Liberian-flagged vessel was built in 2015 and is owned by
Clumvez Shipping Inc, LSEG data showed. Ryder told reporters that U.S. Navy
personnel fired warning shots when the attackers were trying to escape, but
there were no injuries.”



Mali



Fox News: German Priest Freed By Al-Qaeda-Linked Captors In Mali
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“A German priest who was abducted by al-Qaida-linked rebels in Mali's capital
in November 2022 has been released by his captors, a former colleague told The
Associated Press on Monday. Church members in the capital of Bamako learned of
the release of Rev. Hans-Joachim Lohre late on Sunday, according to Dia Monique
Pare, a former colleague who had confirmed his kidnapping. There were few
details about his release. "Yesterday, while we were at Mass, a member of
priest Hans-Joachim Lohre’s family told us that they had good news about the
priest," Pare said. The German Foreign Office on Monday confirmed Lohre’s
release and said he had arrived in Germany, German news agency dpa reported. It
was not immediately known if a ransom was paid. Lohre was abducted by
al-Qaida-linked rebels in Bamako. It was the first time that militants had
seized a foreigner in the African country's capital since their insurgency
began more than a decade ago. Other foreign religious figures have been
abducted in more remote parts of the country. Lohre, who has been in Mali for
more than 30 years, teaches at the Institute of Islamic-Christian Training. The
military government of the West African nation has been struggling to end armed
rebellion in parts of the country. Compounding the violence are increasing
attacks by Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.”



United Kingdom



BBC: Derry Man Kieran McCool In Court On Terrorism Charges
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“Kieran McCool, 55, from Ballymagowan Gardens in Creggan, appeared at Belfast
Crown Court via videolink on Monday. Mr McCool is charged with the preparation
of terrorist acts between January 2016 and January 2022. The charge includes
having explosives, conducting research and accessing a document or record
likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
When the charge was put to Mr McCool, he replied "not guilty". He faces seven
separate offences of having articles for use in terrorism between December 2016
and May 2021. They include black gloves and mobile phones. Mr McCool entered
"not guilty" pleas to all seven charges. Judge Patricia Smyth said she would
review the case next month and set a date for the non-jury trial for 8 April
next year.”



Technology



Wired: Telegram’s Bans On Extremist Channels Aren't Really Bans
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“In the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, people concerned about
online extremism turned their attention to the encrypted messaging app
Telegram, where a Hamas-aligned group posted graphic images of the group’s
attacks to a channel that now has 1.9 million followers. That content was then
shared widely across social media. Following public pressure on Apple and
Google several weeks into the Israel-Hamas war, Telegram “restricted” two of
the major channels used by Hamas. But it did not, as it may appear to some
users, ban them. A WIRED investigation reveals that rather than ban or delete
Hamas channels or those run by right-wing extremist groups, Telegram is hiding
them from the users of the two major app stores, but they are still there. Some
of the content from restricted channels is being shared broadly in unrestricted
ones—despite Telegram’s mechanisms for stopping the sharing of such content.
The findings show that while Telegram makes some of its most violative
communities difficult to find, the people in restricted channels are still able
to spread their messages, experts say, and the channels continue to function as
spaces of radicalization.”



The Counter Extremism Project depends on the generosity of its supporters. If
you value what we do, please consider making a donation.

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