Email from Counter Extremism Project (CEP) Hamas's Khaled Mashaal: We will not disarm, give up control in Gaza, or accept int'l. oversight Eye on Extremism December 8, 2025  Top Stories Associated Press: Netanyahu says Israel and Hamas will enter ceasefire’s second phase soon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel and Hamas are “very shortly expected to move into the second phase of the ceasefire,” after Hamas returns the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza. Netanyahu spoke during a news conference with visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and stressed that the second phase, which addresses the disarming of Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, could begin as soon as the end of the month. Jerusalem Post: Hamas's Khaled Mashaal: We will not disarm, give up control in Gaza, or accept int'l. oversight Hamas will not disarm, give up its weapons, rule of the Gaza Strip, or permit external oversight in Gaza, including the International Stabilization Force (ISF), terror leader Khaled Mashaal said during a video address to an Istanbul conference titled "Pledge to Jerusalem" on Sunday.  On the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and extermination camp at Auschwitz, the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) launched a groundbreaking initiative—the Auschwitz Research Center on Hate, Extremism and Radicalization (ARCHER) at House 88, the former home of camp commandant Rudolf Höss. ARCHER will now be the home of dynamic programming aimed at fighting the rise and spread of extremism across the ideological spectrum. This work is made possible by the generous support of donors like you. Join our collective effort and donate today. DONATE Analysis New York Times: A Weakened Hamas Still Dominates Gaza, Building Day by Day Since Israeli forces withdrew from parts of Gaza in October under a cease-fire agreement, Hamas has moved quickly to fill the void. Its police forces are out on the streets again. Its fighters have executed opponents. And its officials have levied fees on some costly goods being imported into Gaza, according to local businessmen. Over two years of war, top Hamas commanders and thousands of fighters have been killed, and the group’s arsenal has been severely depleted. It now controls less than half of the territory in Gaza, with the rest occupied by Israel. Small Wars Journal: Approaching the War on Terror in the Sahel Since President Trump took office, he has focused on the American homeland, leading to a foreign policy characterized by isolationism and transactions. For Africa, this has meant expecting little support in areas that do not directly benefit the United States, exemplified by the Trump Administration’s rollback of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which in 2024 provided $6.5 billion in humanitarian assistance to the sub-Saharan Africa region alone. However, the Trump Administration has taken some, albeit selective, interest in countering the terrorist threat in Africa, which is enveloping parts of the continent. United States Fox News: Former DEA administrator calls narco-terrorists ‘ruthless’ and ‘savage’ Former Acting DEA Administrator Derek Maltz warns of alleged narco-terrorists tied to global networks and their merciless operations on ‘America Reports.’ Fox News: Trump rewrites national security playbook as mass migration overtakes terrorism as top US threat The Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy marks a sweeping shift in America’s defense priorities, downplaying Islamic terrorism and decades of Middle East–centric policymaking in favor of asserting U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere and treating mass migration as the top national security threat. New York Post: Final disgraceful defendant sentenced in brutal Times Square antisemitism attack A Florida man involved in the brutal caught-on-camera beating of a Jewish victim in Times Square became the sixth and final defendant sentenced in the disgrace, landing two years behind bars Thursday. Salem Seleiman, 30, was sentenced after he admitted to joining the hate-fueled mob who pummeled victim Joseph Borgen during clashes between Israel and Palestinian supporters in Midtown on May 20, 2021. Jewish Telegraphic Agency: Jewish New Yorkers rally outside Park East Synagogue, 2 weeks after anti-Israel protest there More than 1,000 New York City Jews and their allies braved the cold Thursday evening for a rally outside Park East Synagogue, where pro-Palestinian protesters had demonstrated two weeks prior shouting chants like “Globalize the Intifada” and “Death to the IDF.” Thursday’s demonstrators carried signs distributed by organizers that read “Proud New Yorkers, Jews, Zionists.” Others brought signs from home with messages including “Proudly Park East” and “Anti-Zionism is Jew hate is not OK.” Messages from speakers focused mostly on the protesters’ rhetoric and embracing Israel as an important part of Jewish life. KARK-TV (NBC): Little Rock leaders speak out on neo-Nazi ‘Blood Tribe’ protest Several leaders and officials in Little Rock have spoken out after a neo-Nazi group of protesters was seen in the downtown area over the weekend. On Saturday, Dec. 6, Little Rock police said the group of protesters, who call themselves the “Blood Tribe,” were on the grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol and on the sidewalk to Little Rock Central High School. Canada Reuters: Canada removes Syria from its list of foreign state supporters of terrorism The Canadian government said on Friday that it has removed Syria from its list of foreign state supporters of terrorism and removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group that spearheaded the rebel alliance that helped oust President Bashar al-Assad, from its list of terrorist entities. Jerusalem Post: Anti-Israel protester attempts to take Toronto officer's weapon at panel with Israeli politicians An anti-Israel activist assaulted and attempted to take a police officer’s weapon during a protest against a Toronto debate featuring Israeli politicians. Outside the Munk Debates on a two-state solution between former prime minister Ehud Olmert, former foreign minister Tzipi Livni, former ambassador Michael Oren, and former justice minister Ayelet Shaked, Oakville resident Thomas Zinderdine assaulted one officer and tried to disarm another as they directed the movement of demonstrators. Europe Fox News: European Christmas markets fortify security measures as terror threats force major operational changes European Christmas markets are opening this year under tightened security and rising operational costs, as officials across Germany, France and other parts of Europe respond to what authorities describe as elevated threats to public safety. Germany Washington Post: Can Germany stop extremism by banning a far-right party? Some want to try. In an address to commemorate Kristallnacht — the 1938 Nazi pogrom against Jews — German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier last month offered a solution for the resurgence of right-wing extremism: banning the nationalist, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Surveys show that the AfD, now the second-largest faction in the German parliament, is at least as popular as Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union and attracting far more support than Steinmeier’s center-left Social Democratic Party. Italy Jerusalem Post: Clashes break out in Italian port town between Israeli tourists, pro-Palestinian protesters Police were forced to disperse crowds in the Italian port city of Brindisi on Friday after pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated against the arrival of the Crown Iris, which was transporting Israeli passengers, according to Italian media and social media footage. Sweden Euractiv: Neo-Nazi march returns to Sweden after 15 years, sparking political outrage An estimated 200 people took part in a neo-Nazi march in Sweden on Saturday, reviving the controversial ‘Salem march’ on the 25th anniversary of the killing of 17-year-old skinhead Daniel Wredström. Wredström, a nationalist activist, was stabbed to death in 2000 during a confrontation with other teenagers, allegedly of immigrant background, in Salem, in the outskirt of Stockholm. United Kingdom The Times: London cleric attended conference with Hamas and Hezbollah figures A senior London-based cleric attended a conference alongside leading figures from Hezbollah and Hamas. Hasan Ali al-Taraiki, an imam at the Abrar Islamic Foundation in west London, was photographed participating in the al-Bunyan al-Marsous conference held in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, in March last year. The event, which was hosted by the International Union of Resistance Scholars, was attended by senior Hezbollah leaders including Sheikh Naim Qassem and the Hamas official Osama Hamdan. BBC: Man arrested at Heathrow after people believed to have been pepper sprayed A man has been arrested on suspicion of assault after a number of people were sprayed with what is believed to be a form of pepper spray at Heathrow Airport, police have said. Police and emergency services were called at 08:11 GMT on Sunday to a multi-storey car park at Terminal 3 after reports of an alleged assault by a group of men. The Times: Police apologise to Jewish leaders over Maccabi Tel Aviv report A senior police officer has apologised to representatives of the Jewish community after wrongly telling parliament they had agreed with the controversial decision to ban Israeli football fans from a game in Birmingham. The Times: Sir Mark Rowley won anti-terror deal from force while in private sector The Metropolitan Police commissioner received contracts from the force while he was working in the private sector. Sir Mark Rowley stood down as head of the Met’s counterterrorism unit in 2018. But within years he and a business partner had struck a deal with former colleagues at Scotland Yard to provide services to the UK-wide body Counter Terrorism Policing. Afghanistan Reuters: Pakistan, Afghanistan border clashes kill 5, officials say Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their border late on Friday, officials from both countries said, killing at least five people amid heightened tensions following failed peace talks last weekend. Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani forces launched attacks in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province. Afghanistan International: Digital Abuse Is Curtailing Afghan Women’s Opportunities, Says UN The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says digital violence is limiting Afghan women’s access to education, markets and economic opportunities. As part of the annual “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign, the agency says a safe digital environment is essential for women’s participation in agriculture, livelihoods and a sustainable food system. Gaza Strip/West Bank Reuters: Gaza talks at critical moment, ceasefire not complete, Qatar's prime minister says Negotiations on consolidating the U.S.-backed truce in the war in Gaza are at a "critical" moment, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said on Saturday. Mediators are working to force the next phase of the ceasefire forward, al-Thani, whose country has been a key mediator in the war, said during a panel discussion at the Doha Forum conference in Qatar. Times of Israel: Turkish, Egyptian FMs say Israel breaching ceasefire daily; Ankara urges US to step in Turkey and Egypt accused Israel of daily breaches of the ceasefire in Gaza, with Ankara’s foreign minister saying that US President Donald Trump will have to intervene if Washington doesn’t want its truce to collapse. Speaking during an onstage interview at the Doha Forum in Qatar, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Trump should have a “very substantial conversation” with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the matter. Reuters: Turkey's Fidan: Gaza governance must precede Hamas disarmament in ceasefire deal Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Reuters on Saturday that not advancing the U.S.-backed Gaza ceasefire plan to its next stage would be a "huge failure" for the world and Washington, noting that President Donald Trump had personally led the push. In an interview on the sidelines of the Doha Forum, Fidan said a credible Palestinian civil administration and a vetted, trained police force needed to be in place to allow Hamas to disarm, and that the group was prepared to hand over control of the enclave. Wall Street Journal: Prominent Anti-Hamas Militia Leader Killed in Gaza The head of the most prominent anti-Hamas militia backed by Israel in Gaza has been killed, removing a key figure in a policy to build up armed alternatives to the militant group. Yasser Abu Shabab, the young leader of a militia called the Popular Force, which holds sway in a small slice of territory in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, was shot and killed while intervening in a Palestinian clan dispute, his militia said late Thursday. Jerusalem Post: Abu Shabab's deputy speaks out after appointment: 'Why would I be afraid of Hamas?' The new leader of the Abu Shabab clan, Ghassan al-Duhaini, told N12 News on Friday that his militia would continue to fight Hamas in southern Gaza with greater intensity. "Why would I be afraid of Hamas when I am fighting Hamas?” al-Dahini told N12. “I fight them, arrest their people, confiscate their equipment, fight them, and push them away. I do what they deserve in the name of the people and the free individuals.” Jerusalem Post: Car-ramming at Hebron checkpoint wounds one IDF soldier, terrorist killed A car ramming attack at an IDF checkpoint in the West Bank city of Hebron lightly wounded one Israeli soldier on Saturday evening, the IDF said. When the vehicle accelerated towards a group of soldiers, the troops shot at the suspects, killing two. Iraq The Media Line: Why Did Iraqi PM al-Sudani Designate Then Remove Hezbollah and Houthis From Terror List? Iraqi circles are abuzz with controversy following the decision to place Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi movement on the “Terrorist Assets Freeze” list—a move that was reversed just hours later. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, Dec. 4, sparked widespread debate within Iraq’s political landscape, given its timing and its impact on the current government’s relationship with pro-Iranian forces, as well as on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s standing in the process of selecting the next prime minister. Israel Jerusalem Post: Mansour Abbas says Ra'am will split from Shura Council, Muslim Brotherhood Ra'am (United Arab List) chair MK Mansour Abbas announced that his party would separate from the Shura Council and Muslim Brotherhood during a Saturday interview with Channel 12's Meet the Press. Jerusalem Post: IDF soldier wears far Right Kach patch on uniform - Army Radio An IDF soldier appeared to be wearing a patch on his uniform with the emblem of the banned far-right Kach movement, Army Radio's Doron Kadosh reported on Saturday night. Jerusalem Post: Israel to Hamas in Cairo: Return Ran Gvili’s remains, accept Gaza disarmament terms - N12 Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad know how to reach slain hostage Ran Gvili to return his remains to Israel, the Jewish state's delegation told mediators of the hostage and ceasefire deal while in Cairo, N12 reported late Friday. Jerusalem Post: Netanyahu orders evacuation of 14 illegal outposts, removal of Jewish extremists in West Bank - N12 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the evacuation of 14 illegal West Bank outposts defined as "centers of Jewish extremism and nationalist crime," in a recent security meeting, N12 News reported on Saturday. PBS News: Netanyahu says Israel and Hamas will soon enter second phase of ceasefire Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel and Hamas are “very shortly expected to move into the second phase of the ceasefire,” after Hamas returns the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza. Netanyahu spoke during a news conference with visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and stressed that the second phase, which addresses the disarming of Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, could begin as soon as the end of the month. Lebanon Jerusalem Post: Lebanese FM: 'Hezbollah will not disarm without Iranian consent' Lebanon continues to claim that it will try to disarm Hezbollah. However, it also appears to know that this is going to be a difficult road ahead. Over the weekend, Al-Arabiya quoted Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji as admitting what was widely known: Iran is behind Hezbollah’s weapons. “In this context, the Lebanese Foreign Minister stressed that 'Hezbollah cannot hand over its weapons without an Iranian decision, and its concern today is to buy time and preserve itself internally in order to regain its power,'” he said, according to the report. Naharnet: Army arrests six suspects who attacked UNIFIL in Bint Jbeil The Lebanese Army on Saturday announced the arrest of six individuals accused of attacking a UNIFIL patrol in Bint Jbeil in south Lebanon. "On the night of 4-5/12/ 2025, a number of citizens attacked a patrol of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on the al-Tiri-Bint Jbeil road, which resulted in damage to a vehicle belonging to it, without any casualties among its members," the army said. Naharnet: US lawmakers urge Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah, 'by force if necessary' A group of U.S. members of Congress have sent a letter to President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam calling for the disarmament of Hezbollah, saying the process “must begin now, even by force if necessary.” The lawmakers said Lebanon committed under the November 2024 ceasefire to launch a gradual process to dismantle Hezbollah’s military structure and restore state authority across the country, but argued that “empty promises and partial measures that fall short of disarmament are nowhere near enough.” Naharnet: Qassem backs diplomacy but slams adding civilian to negotiations committee Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem said Friday that the inclusion of a civilian Lebanese representative in the Mechanism committee is “a measure that clearly violates all the previous official statements and stances that had called for halting the enemy’s hostilities prior to involving any civilian in the Mechanism.” “What happened was a free concession that will not change the enemy’s stance nor its aggression and occupation,” Qassem added, warning that “Israel and America want to keep Lebanon under fire.” JNS: IDF dismantles Hezbollah tunnel in Southern Lebanon Israeli forces recently carried out an operation to dismantle a tunnel previously used by the Hezbollah terrorist group in the Houla area of Southern Lebanon, the military said Sunday. Israel Defense Forces troops had located and neutralized the tunnel earlier in the war, and the dismantling was carried out to prevent any future exploitation. Reuters: European Union eyeing Lebanon presence in boost for efforts to disarm Hezbollah, document shows The European Union is studying options for strengthening Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces to help free up the Lebanese army to focus on disarming the armed group Hezbollah, according to a document seen by Reuters on Monday. A 2024 truce between Lebanon and Israel remains fragile, with Israel carrying out regular strikes on Lebanese territory that it says are targeting Hezbollah’s efforts to rearm. Syria Jerusalem Post: Israel ‘fighting ghosts,’ Syrian president says, accuses Jerusalem of exploiting Oct. 7 Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa accused Israel of exploiting October 7 and its security concerns at the Doha Forum in Qatar on Saturday. “Israel has become a country that is in a fight against ghosts,” Sharaa said, claiming that Israelis use “their security concerns, and they take October 7 and extrapolate it to everything happening around them.” Somalia The Times: The Isis fighter who left the Netherlands to wage jihad in Somalia How does a person born in one of the most liberal countries in the world to a caring family and a stable home end up joining a murderous terror group? That is the question at the heart of Hassan Attar’s story, a Dutch national who joined Isis in Somalia before being captured six months ago. South Africa Reuters: White Supremacy Notion Threatens South Africa's Sovereignty, President Says Ideas of white racial superiority are a threat to South Africa's post-apartheid unity, its sovereignty and its diplomatic relations, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday, calling for global efforts to debunk false stories about white persecution. Ramaphosa was speaking at a conference of the co-ruling African National Congress (ANC), the party of Nelson Mandela that defeated racist white minority rule in South Africa three decades ago. Thailand Reuters: 'We'll bring him home': Thai family's long wait for Gaza hostage to end Two years after Thai worker Sudthisak Rinthalak was killed by Hamas militants, his family in northeastern Thailand is preparing to welcome his remains home and hold a Buddhist ceremony they believe will bring his spirit peace. Sudthisak's remains were among 27 bodies of hostages that Hamas has returned under the current ceasefire agreement. The handover of deceased hostages was a key condition of the initial phase of the deal aimed at ending the war in Gaza. Pakistan Arab News: Pakistan military says 12 militants killed in counter-terror operations in southwest Pakistani security forces killed 12 “Indian-sponsored terrorists” in the southwestern Balochistan province, the military’s media wing said on Sunday, vowing to purge “terrorism” from the country. 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? 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