Growing tensions between Hamas Leaders — with Dr. Matt Levitt
Jan 9, 2024
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Dr. Matthew Levitt, counterterrorism expert, discusses the internal tensions and rivalries within Hamas's leadership. The podcast explores the opacity of Hamas leaders, their decision-making processes, and the growing divisions within the group. It also touches on recent developments in Israel, tensions between Hamas and Hezbollah, and the overall situation in the region.
Growing tensions between Hamas's internal and external leaders are evident, with disagreements arising after the October 7th attack.
The targeted assassinations by Israel against key figures in Hamas and Hezbollah have disrupted leadership structures and decision-making processes within the groups.
Deep dives
Growing tensions between Hamas's leaders
The podcast episode discusses the growing tensions between the leaders of Hamas. It highlights the complex structure of Hamas, with internal and external leadership and various factions. The main focus is on the power struggle between Yahya Sinwar, who runs Gaza and has a hardline approach, and Ismail Haniyeh, the overall secretary general. Post the October 7th attack, there are indications of disagreements between the Gaza-based leaders and those in external locations. Sinwar is more focused on continuing the fight and sees setbacks as temporary, while the external leaders are looking for ways to ease out of the situation considering the likely loss of control over Gaza. The episode explores the operational security measures of Hamas and offers insights into the strategic calculations of its leaders.
Targeted assassinations and their impact
The podcast delves into the recent string of targeted assassinations carried out by Israel against key figures in Hamas and Hezbollah. It highlights the significance of these assassinations in disrupting the leadership structure and decision-making processes within the groups. The episode discusses the potential motives behind these assassinations, ranging from operational security concerns to political rivalries and power struggles among the leaders. It also examines the repercussions of these targeted killings on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as the broader geopolitical dynamics in the region.
Hamas's relationship with Hezbollah and Iran
The podcast explores the evolving relationship between Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as their ties with Iran. It discusses the expectations and disappointments following the October 7th attacks, with indications that Hezbollah and Iran did not fully support Hamas's offensive as anticipated. The episode examines the complex dynamics between these groups, including tensions and differing agendas. It also analyzes the implications of these dynamics for the ongoing conflict and potential diplomatic negotiations, highlighting the various factors at play in determining the actions and responses of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.
Prospects for a diplomatic resolution
The podcast considers the prospects for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. It discusses potential diplomatic tracks, including unofficial disengagement and border demarcation, and highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with each option. The episode emphasizes Israel's shifting security doctrine and its determination to prevent future threats, while also acknowledging the potential for diplomatic avenues to ease tensions and bring about a more stable and peaceful situation. It touches on the impact of the ongoing conflict on regional dynamics, including the resilience of the Abraham Accords and potential future normalization efforts.
What do Israelis know about the political tensions within Hamas’s leadership? About their decision-makers, their motives, their processes, and Hamas’s internal disagreements and rivalries? Matt Levitt of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and Ehud Yaari of Israel’s Channel 12 news set out to try to answer these questions. Are tensions heating up between Hamas’s internal and and external leaders?
Dr. Matthew Levitt. Matt is the director of the Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He served as deputy assistant secretary for intelligence and analysis at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. During his tenure at Treasury, he played a central role in efforts to protect the U.S. financial system from abuse and to deny terrorists, weapons proliferators, and other rogue actors the ability to finance threats to U.S. national security. He later served as a counterterrorism advisor to the special envoy for Middle East regional security. Previously, Matt was a counterterrorism intelligence analyst at the FBI, where he provided tactical and strategic analytical support for counterterrorism operations, focusing on fundraising and logistical support networks for Middle Eastern terrorist groups. He is the author of several books and monographs, including Hamas: Politics, Charity and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad (Yale University Press, 2006), and Hezbollah: The Global Footprint of Lebanon's Party of God (Georgetown University Press, 2013). He is the host of the podcast series, Breaking Hezbollah's Golden Rule.
Washington Institute for Near East Policy paper discussed in this episode: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/growing-internal-tensions-between-hamas-leaders
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