Hans-Jakob Schindler, Senior Director of the international Counter Extremism Project, tells the Tagesspiegel that the renewed escalation was unfortunately foreseeable. “The basic problem remains that no decision has been made as to who should ultimately control the Gaza Strip,” he tells the Tagesspiegel. “A withdrawal of the Israeli military at this point in time would therefore have meant that Hamas would have automatically taken control again.”

CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed: Israel has restarted strikes on Gaza, the fiercest since a now-expired ceasefire came into effect in January. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the recent airstrikes on Gaza are, "only the beginning." Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says the strikes killed over 400 Palestinians, including many children. The IDF has ordered evacuations in eastern Gaza, while Israelis have called for protests. In Tel Aviv, the families of hostages joined thousands protesting against the Israeli strikes on Gaza - accusing Netanyahu's government of sacrificing their relatives.

“The detonation in Tel Aviv could be heard for miles. On Friday night, bombs exploded in three empty buses in the towns of Holon and Bat Yam… Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the international Counter Extremism Project, sees a direct connection between Israel's military actions in the West Bank and the situation in the Gaza Strip. "Although there is still no clear strategy for the long-term administration of the Gaza Strip, it is nevertheless clear that Hamas will be weakened at least in the short to medium term," he told the Tagesspiegel. Therefore, from Israel's point of view, it is important to prevent "a strengthening of terrorist structures in the West Bank. As the recent attacks in Tel Aviv have demonstrated, this is still within the realm of possibility."”

"Joshua Fisher-Birch, a terrorism analyst at the non-profit Counter Extremism Project, said that a prospective Gaza occupation has angered the far right “more than any other issue has in 2025 so far”.

“White supremacist online propagandists have reacted to Trump’s idea to take over Gaza with disgust and have stated that it is an act of betrayal,” he said. “The proposal is being portrayed as Trump sending white Americans to die on behalf of Israel.”"

"Hamas has ability to rebuild if circumstances allow, expert Hans-Jakob Schindler tells DW
Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the Counter Extremism Project, has told DW that the ceasefire deal is "a victory" for the hostages and Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

However, Schindler said the Hamas command and control structure, and its tunnel network, had been severely degraded. "

“Egypt has proposed a two-day truce in Gaza as a prelude to a longer cease-fire. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called on Hamas to free four of the Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. He proposed more negotiations to follow that release within ten days.
Meanwhile, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least 45 people, mainly in the north of the strip. UN Chief Antonio Guterres said he was shocked by what he called the "harrowing levels of death, injury and destruction." Egypt proposes temporary truce in Gaza. DW speaks with Hans-Jakob Schindler, Middle East security expert and Senior Director at the Counter Extremism Project in Berlin”

“He was the head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip - and is now the head of the entire organization. Jihia Sinwar, the terror group announced this week on the short message service Telegram, has been appointed head of the political office. This means that power within Hamas is concentrated on the man the Israelis have been hunting for months - and who is said to have successfully hidden in the tunnels of Gaza. […] In fact, Sinwar had the most influence within the terrorist organization, even though Haniya held the political leadership position on paper. "As a result of the attack on October 7, the Hamas leadership in Gaza took actual control of the terrorist group," explains Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the international Counter Extremism Project.”