Email from Counter Extremism Project (CEP) Vance Says International Security Force Will Take Lead on Disarming Hamas Eye on Extremism October 24, 2025   Top Stories INTERPOL: 83 arrests in landmark African operation against terrorism financing A first-of-its-kind operation targeting terrorism financing and the illegal activity supporting it, has led to 83 arrests across six African countries and the identification of 160 persons of interest. Operation Catalyst (July – September 2025) aimed to identify and disrupt financial flows and schemes found to have connections to terrorism financing and its support networks. Of the 83 arrests, 21 were for terrorism-related crimes, 28 were for financial fraud and money laundering, 16 were linked to cyber-enabled scams and a further 18 were related to the illicit use of virtual assets. New York Times: Vance Says International Security Force Will Take Lead on Disarming Hamas Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that an international security force that has yet to be formed would take the lead on disarming Hamas, which has been one of the thorniest issues when it comes to reaching a lasting peace in Gaza. The 20-point peace proposal did not specify that the security force would be tasked with disarming Hamas, and a timeline for doing so has not been laid out. The force was originally envisioned as a way to secure areas of Gaza where Israeli troops have withdrawn, prevent munitions from entering the territory, facilitate the distribution of aid and train a Palestinian police force. CEP Resources External Non-State Actors As A Source Of Instability In West Africa: Hezbollah And Wagner/Africa Corps Culture of Violence: Terrorism Reaches Its Peak in Burkina Faso A Lawless Space – Alleged ISIS-affiliated Men and Boys from Germany Detained in Northeastern Syria The Role of Antisemitism in the Mobilization to Violence by Extremist and Terrorist Actors CEP Mentions Il Riformista: Disinformation experts gathered in Rome Opening the event, German speaker Alexander Ritzmann (Counter Extremism Project, Germany) reconstructed the map of organized antisemitic networks, illustrating methods for identification and counteraction that combine open-source intelligence, flow analysis, and public-private cooperation. The goal: dismantling the architectures of hate by addressing the nodes, financing, and mechanisms of algorithmic amplification. Bayerischer Rundfunk: Donations for terror – how German money finances Islamists CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed about terrorism financing in Germany for BR radio feature. “The ‘caliphate’ of the so-called ‘Islamic State’ is long gone. But IS supporters continue to carry out attacks. And new Islamist structures are emerging in prison camps in Syria. The necessary funds for this come from donations, including from Germany. Donors are sometimes unaware of what they are doing, say lawyers, and investigators in this country are having a hard time, say experts.” Analysis Fondapol: Islamist terrorist attacks in the world 1979-2024 The series of attacks on September 11, 2001 remains the deadliest in the history of terrorism, with 3,001 dead and 16,493 injured. However, the attacks of October 7, 2023 represent the second most deadly Islamist terrorist event, causing the death of at least 1,195 people, injuring more than 3,400, and organizing the kidnapping of 2513. These attacks were the largest against Israel on its own soil since its creation in 1948. The October 7 pogrom was characterized by unprecedented violence: assassinations, torture, rape and hostage-taking of women, children and the elderly. U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control: Nathan Sales Hezbollah Testimony On October 21, the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control held a hearing titled, “Global Gangsters: Hezbollah’s Latin American Drug Trafficking Operations.” The hearing examined how Hezbollah finances terrorism through its drug trafficking and money laundering operations in Latin America, and the United States government’s response to this threat. United States Times of Israel: Trump says ‘Israel not going to do anything with the West Bank’ US President Donald Trump on Thursday declared “Israel is not going to do anything with the West Bank,” as officials from his administration leveled harsh criticism against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government after lawmakers advanced legislation to annex parts of the West Bank while Vice President JD Vance was visiting the country. “Don’t worry about the West Bank,” Trump told reporters at the White House, in his first comments on the matter since the Knesset voted on the two bills Wednesday. “Don’t worry about it,” he repeated. “Israel’s doing very well. They’re not going to do anything with it.” Reuters: US mulls Gaza aid plan that would replace controversial GHF aid operation The United States is considering a proposal for humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza that would replace the controversial U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, according to a copy of the plan seen by Reuters. It is one of several concepts being explored, said two U.S. officials and a humanitarian official familiar with the plan, as Washington seeks to facilitate increased deliveries of assistance to the Palestinian enclave after two years of war. “Multiple approaches are being considered to effectively get aid to the people of Gaza – nothing is finalized,” said a senior U.S. administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Times of Israel: How many American Jews are anti-Zionists? There is no clear answer, largely due to differing understandings of Zionism, a lack of data, and difficulties surveying US Jews, although the proportion of anti-Zionist Jews is likely marginal, Jewish community pollsters said. Zionism, in the US today, is generally defined as support for Jewish self-determination in Israel, but not necessarily support for Israel’s government. “Today, if you’re anti-Zionist, to me, it would mean that you’re against the existence of a Jewish state somewhere in the Holy Land,” said Ira Sheskin, a geographer at the University of Miami and the director of the Jewish Demography Project. “The percentage of Jews who fall in that category is very tiny.” Jewish Insider: Trump’s ambassador nominee struggles to explain antisemitic record in contentious Hill hearing Amer Ghalib, the mayor of Hamtramck, Mich., and President Donald Trump’s embattled nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Kuwait, struggled to win over skeptical senators of both parties during his confirmation hearing on Thursday as he faced a grilling over his long record of promoting antisemitic ideas and embracing anti-Israel positions as an elected official. Ghalib was grilled by Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which began when the committee’s ranking Democrat, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), called out his litany of antisemitic comments and denial of sexual violence during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. Germany Deutsche Welle: Afghan Consulate: Data treasure for the Taliban Many Afghans who have fled their homeland since 2021, as well as those who are afraid of the Taliban or simply want nothing to do with them, go to the embassies and consulates general that are still loyal to the old Islamic Republic. Here, these people received certificates, passports, birth and marriage certificates, baptism certificates. Here, they believed, their data was safe. Until now. If the Taliban now gain access to the servers at the Consulate General in Bonn, or have possibly already done so, it is not only opposition members in exile who are in danger. It is above all their families in Afghanistan who have to fear reprisals from the radical Islamists, as the Taliban secret service GDI regularly puts pressure on regime critics by taking action against their relatives. And the Bonn data can be used to find out who is related to whom and where these people live in Afghanistan. Deutsche Welle: Josef Mengele biopic explores soul of fascism Josef Mengele was a Nazi physician who performed sadistic experiments on Jewish people at the Auschwitz death camp. After the war ended, the so-called "Angel of Death," who was gaining infamy for his murderous exploits in the name of science, managed to evade capture in Germany and escaped to Argentina with the help of former fellow members of the SS — the Nazi regime's elite guard. This is the starting point for "The Disappearance of Josef Mengele," a film drama that details the war criminal's successful attempts to escape trial as he moves from Buenos Aires to Paraguay via Brazil. Based on the award-winning 2017 book by French journalist and writer Olivier Guez, the film is a bleak portrait of the roots — and consequences — of ideological extremism. Deutsche Welle: George Soros receives prize for work on Roma, Sinti rights Noted human rights advocate and philanthropist George Soros has received the European Civil Rights Prize of the Sinti and Roma for his many years of work supporting Roma communities across Europe. The prize, awarded at a ceremony in Berlin where former Chancellor Angela Merkel was a speaker, was accepted on his behalf by George Soros' son, Alex, who is the chair of the board of directors of the Open Society Foundations founded by his father. Soros himself said in a statement that "[t]he Roma have endured centuries of discrimination and marginalization, rooted in a long history of violence — from the Holocaust to forced sterilization, child removals, and evictions." United Kingdom Unherd: Islamic extremist network is spreading in Birmingham Already reeling from the decision by West Midlands Police to ban supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv from their upcoming game against Aston Villa, anyone troubled by the failure to tackle extremism in Birmingham has new cause for concern. That’s because a local chapter of Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) has emerged. The TLP is an Islamist political party in Pakistan that openly calls for the violent destruction of Israel and the murder of those it deems guilty of blasphemy, including members of the minority Ahmadi Muslim sect. The Ahmadi creed emphasises moderation and non-violence, but followers are regarded by both Shia and Sunnis as heretics. Yesterday the TLP was banned by the government in its home country, yet its message is now spreading in the UK. The Times: Drug dealer ‘waged campaign of terrorism for Wagner Group’ A drug dealer who orchestrated an attack on a warehouse holding aid for Ukraine on behalf of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group “waged a sustained campaign of terrorism and sabotage on UK soil”, a court was told. Dylan Earl, 21, from Elmsthorpe in Leicestershire, had admitted organising the attack on a unit in the Cromwell Industrial Estate in Leyton, east London, in March last year, an offence under the National Security Act. Azerbaijan News.az: Six Azerbaijani citizens repatriated from Syria Six Azerbaijani citizens, including two women and four children, were repatriated from Syria on October 22 following measures taken by the Azerbaijani government, News.Az reports, citing the Foreign Ministry. The ministry confirmed their whereabouts, identity, and citizenship before representatives of the relevant Azerbaijani state bodies travelled to Syria to facilitate the process. The repatriates underwent initial medical and psychological evaluations as part of their return procedure. Russia The Hill: Senate panel to advance Russia state sponsor of terrorism bill The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is expected this week to advance a bill designating Russia a State Sponsor of Terrorism, a show of unity on countering Russian President Vladimir Putin as President Trump has floated a second, face-to-face meeting with the Russian leader. The panel will vote on advancing the bill during a business meeting on Wednesday. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced the bill last month, an effort the senators have tried to advance over the course of Russia’s more than three-year war against Ukraine. “Russia’s earned the right to be on this list,” Graham said at a press conference introducing the bill. Gaza Strip Wall Street Journal: Hamas Has Calculated It Can Survive in Gaza—and Rule In the two weeks since a U.S.-brokered truce in Gaza, Hamas is making one thing clear: It isn’t going away. Hamas is pushing for a postwar governance role in negotiations with Arab mediators. That stance is at odds with President Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which calls for the U.S.-designated terrorist group to give up power “in any form.” Hamas has probed Israeli defenses, prompting Israeli airstrikes in response and raising worries about the fragility of the cease-fire. And it has launched a bloody campaign against rival Palestinian groups, a show of force demonstrating that it remains the only power capable of ruling the Gaza Strip. Israel Jerusalem Post: Special Shin Bet 'Nili' unit kills terrorists who kidnapped Noa Argamani from Nova festival The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) on Thursday revealed its "Nili" unit, which was established after Hamas's October 7 invasion, to focus on locating and killing those terrorists who had participated in the slaughter of Israelis. In a joint message from the Shin Bet and IDF intelligence, the two agencies specifically noted that they have worked together for two years on the select special project, with highly experienced intelligence officers diverted from other roles to identify, track, and plan the targeting of those October 7 invaders. Jointly, these units, along with the IDF Southern Command and the Israel Air Force, have assassinated thousands of Gazan terrorists in diverse locations throughout the Strip. Lebanon Jerusalem Post: Israeli jets strike Hezbollah training camp, missile manufacturing facility in Lebanon IAF fighter jets struck a series of Hezbollah terrorist targets, including a training camp, in the Bekaa Valley of southern Lebanon on Thursday, the IDF reported. The Bekaa Governorate is located next to the Lebanese border with Syria, north of the Golan Heights. The IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate had identified terrorist operatives at the training camp who were trained to shoot and use various weapons, the IDF said. Israeli aircraft also reportedly struck a Hezbollah precision-missile manufacturing site in the area, as well as additional terrorist targets in the Sharbine area of Srobbin in northern Lebanon, it said. Naharnet: Report: Israel says has reported 1,734 'Hezbollah violations' to 'Mechanism' European sources have warned in remarks to Sky News Arabia that a large-scale Israeli strike against Lebanon may only be a matter of time. The sources added that it is unclear whether Israel will treat the Lebanese state as “a complicit or a failure.” An Israeli security source meanwhile told Sky News Arabia on Friday that Israel had submitted a total of 1,734 complaints to the Cessation of Hostilities Committee (the Mechanism) regarding Hezbollah “violations.” Syria France24: Syria launches operation against foreign jihadists in push to capture French fighters Syria government forces launched an operation Wednesday against jihadists holed up in a camp in the northwest, in a push to capture French fighters wanted by their government. Troops surrounded French jihadists in the camp during the ongoing operation, said Syrian authorities, confirming a report by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group that a "vast operation" was launched "to arrest French fighters wanted by their government". The son of a prominent French jihadist in the camp, who goes by the alias Jibril al-Mouhajir, also told AFP that "clashes erupted after midnight and are ongoing". AP: What to know about the French militants who clashed with Syrian forces in Idlib Foreign nationals streamed into Syria to fight on different sides after the outbreak of the country’s civil war in 2011. Some joined the Islamic State group. Thousands of alleged foreign IS militants and family members are still held in camps and detention centers guarded by Kurdish-led forces in northeast Syria. Others joined various insurgent factions in northwest Syria, where many remain today, while some have been stationed in different parts of the country as part of the new national army since Assad’s fall. Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group, noted that for HTS, “the presence of foreign fighters in areas under their control has always been a dilemma and a headache,” both because of friction with the fighters’ home countries and because many “Syrians are very unhappy with their presence.” India The Tribune: From online propaganda to planned blasts: How 2 youths became ISIS operatives in Delhi They were young, educated, and lived what seemed to be ordinary lives. But behind their smartphone and laptop screens, the two men were slowly drawn into the dark web of ISIS propaganda, and eventually allegedly converted it into a plot to strike Delhi on Diwali. The two youths — Md Adnan Khan alias Abu Muharib (19), from Delhi’s Sadiq Nagar, and Adnan Khan alias Abu Mohammad (20), from Bhopal — were arrested in a pre-emptive operation that likely averted a major tragedy, according to officials. Pakistan Arab News: Pakistan detains suspected militants of sectarian Zainabiyoun Brigade Pakistan’s counterterrorism police said on Thursday they had arrested two suspected militants linked to the Zainabiyoun Brigade, a group Islamabad banned last year for alleged involvement in sectarian and other activities “prejudicial to national security.” Pakistan banned the Zainabiyoun Brigade in March 2024, designating it a ‘terrorist’ outfit after intelligence assessments found it posed a threat to national security. Islamabad says the group, composed mainly of Pakistani Shia fighters, is backed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), the group became the 79th entity on Pakistan’s list of proscribed organizations. The US Treasury Department sanctioned the Zainabiyoun Brigade in January 2019, citing its role in “recruiting and deploying Pakistani fighters to Syria” under IRGC direction. Libya Jamestown Foundation: Weakened Islamic State Eyes Resurgence in Libya Despite the obvious degradation of its operational capabilities, IS continues to pose a threat in Libya, particularly through its integration with transnational criminal networks to its south. The group’s logistical and financial ties to the Sahel and the exploitation of regional instability—especially in Sudan—have allowed it to sustain a presence and facilitate the movement of fighters, weapons, and money across borders. Recent arrests and intelligence reports confirm the existence of active cells engaged in recruitment, financing, and arms trafficking. Moreover, the al-Naba editorial points at a renewed ambition to strengthen IS’s operational profile in Libya again. As such, Libya remains a critical node in IS’s broader regional strategy, underscoring the need for sustained counterterrorism and border control efforts. Burkina Faso Africa Report: Burkina Faso: Will Ouagadougou fall to jihadists? Behind the patriotic propaganda and Russian backing, Burkina Faso’s military is losing ground fast and the once unthinkable prospect of an isolated capital now looms large as jihadist groups choke its lifelines and morale crumbles. For now, Ouagadougou remains under government control, but growing insecurity around Burkina Faso's capital has turned quiet concerns into serious discussion among diplomats and analysts. Africa Defense Forum: Terror groups diversify to find steady flow of illicit financing The Sahelian terror group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has expanded across Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger largely by exploiting the region’s resources and communities for its own benefit. The al-Qaida affiliate has amassed a stable stream of illicit financing that it uses to buy weapons, produce propaganda and recruit new members. Rather than rely on a single flow of income, JNIM has diversified across four primary sources: artisanal mining, kidnapping, livestock theft and money laundering. Mali APA News: Mali halts transport company over alleged terror group dealv The Malian government announced the immediate suspension of Diarra Transport’s operations following the release of a controversial video by the terrorist organization, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). In the recording, JNIM spokesperson Bina Diarra claimed that the jihadist group had authorized the transport company to resume its operations, but only under specific religious and social conditions. Australia ABC News: Court rejects Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell's attempt to delay hearing but grants Mein Kampf access Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell's application to adjourn an upcoming court matter has been rejected by a Victorian court, but he will be given access to Adolf Hitler's manifesto as he prepares his case. Mr Sewell is charged with one count of behaving in an offensive manner in a public area, after allegedly leading about 30 people shouting white supremacist slogans through Eureka Stockade Memorial Park in 2023. Technology ADL: Innovative AI Video Generators Produce Antisemitic, Hateful and Violent Outputs In a matter of seconds, anyone can now use popular AI video generation tools to create antisemitic and extremist content. As this technology continues to evolve, existing guardrails often fail to catch prompts that can be used to generate extremist content, contributing to the proliferation of antisemitic propaganda across social media. According to a new analysis from the ADL Center on Technology and Society (CTS), new AI-powered text-to-video tools can be easily used to produce disturbing antisemitic, hateful and dangerous videos, despite existing safeguards that supposedly prohibit them. In our test of 50 text prompts across four AI video generators, the tools produced videos in response to antisemitic, extremist or otherwise hateful text prompts at least 40% of the time. CEP Podcasts Unpacking the week's extremism-related anniversaries and news, as well as counter extremism developments and prospects. A deep dive into CEP's research and topics that are relevant to our mission, from our Berlin-based team.   The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) is a nonprofit and non-partisan international policy organization working to combat the growing threat posed by extremist ideologies. CEP depends on the generosity of its supporters. If you value what we do, please consider making a donation. DONATE Were you forwarded this email? Subscribe for yourself here. Counter Extremism Project (CEP) | PO Box 3980 | NEW YORK, NY 10185 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice