CT-Critical threats and ISW IRAN CRISIS UPDATES -EMAIL-BAR.jpg Iran Update, February 1, 2025

 CT-Critical threats  and ISW

IRAN  CRISIS  UPDATES

-EMAIL-BAR.jpg

Iran Update, February 1, 2025

Hamas released three living male hostages, including one Israeli-American hostage, on February 1.[i] Hamas released two hostages in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, and one hostage at the Gaza Port, in the northern Gaza Strip.[ii] This marked the first hostage release at the Gaza Port. Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners into the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and Egypt.[iii] Eighteen of the 183 prisoners whom Israel released were serving life sentences and 100 were being held without trial in Israel following Hamas’ October 7 attack. The IDF dropped leaflets and warned Palestinians against marches and demonstrations in favor of Hamas in the West Bank following the release of prisoners.[iv]

The Rafah border crossing resumed operations on February 1 in compliance with the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement.[v] The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported 50 sick or wounded Palestinians exited via the crossing to Egypt for treatment on February 1.[vi] The Israeli Shin Bet and Egypt review and approve each person in advance.[vii] The IDF withdrew from the Rafah crossing to the neighboring Philadelphi corridor on January 31 and will maintain a presence around the crossing.[viii] Staffers from the Palestinian Authority and the European Union assumed responsibility for the administrative affairs associated with the crossing.[ix] Axios reported this marked the first Palestinian Authority activity in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas takeover of the strip in 2007.

CTP-ISW has recorded no verifiable reports of kinetic activity in the Gaza Strip or attacks from the Gaza Strip into Israel since the last data cutoff on January 31.

Iranian-backed Iraqi State of Law Coalition head Nouri al Maliki made anti-Sunni sectarian statements after Sunni politicians recently raised long-held Sunni political demands. Maliki warned of attempts by ISIS, Baath party members, “and some of those who have other purposes” to circumvent the Iraqi political process in a speech on February 1.[x] Maliki said that Iraq must defend against “sectarians” and “Baathists” trying to overthrow the Iraqi government. Maliki specifically likened these supposed efforts to the recent overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al Assad. Maliki added that unspecified actors would not pressure his coalition to dissolve the Accountability and Justice Commission or allow “terrorists” to leave prison. Shia political parties have long manipulated the Accountability and Justice Commission to target political opponents, including Sunnis, and Maliki himself has used “terrorists” to describe his Sunni political opponents to discredit legitimate political opposition as members of al Qaeda in Iraq or ISIS.[xi] Maliki’s statements will almost certainly cause many Sunni political figures—most of whom have been active since the 2000s when Maliki led Iraq—to harden their opposition against the Iraqi Shia parties. The newly formed Iraqi United Sunni Leadership Coalition called on the Iraqi federal government to implement nine long-standing Sunni demands on January 18 that included dissolving the Accountability and Justice Commission and amending the General Amnesty Law.[xii]  The amendment to the General Amnesty law that passed Parliament on January 21 grants amnesty to many Iraqis, including some who were arrested under Article 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Law.[xiii]

Key Takeaways:

Gaza Strip: Hamas released three living male hostages, including one Israeli-American hostage, on February 1. The Rafah border crossing also resumed operations on February 1 in compliance with the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement.

Iraq: Iranian-backed Iraqi State of Law Coalition head Nouri al Maliki made anti-Sunni sectarian statements after Sunni politicians recently raised long-held Sunni political demands. Shia political parties have long manipulated the Accountability and Justice Commission to target political opponents, including Sunnis, and Maliki himself has used “terrorists” to describe his Sunni political opponents to discredit legitimate political opposition as members of al Qaeda in Iraq or ISIS.