Blog
Interfor’s Weekly Digest | Global Security and Policy Insights – September 3, 2024
Global Security Matters
Israel – Gaza – Iran
- Early Sunday morning, the IDF announced it had recovered the bodies of six hostages, all taken on October 7th by Hamas, in an underground tunnel in Rafah. Medical examination of their bodies revealed that they were executed at close range 48-72 hours prior to the IDF’s arrival. Among the identified hostages is Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a US citizen whose story has drawn global attention due to the tireless efforts of his parents, Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his deep sorrow over the news, highlighting Hersh’s bravery during the initial attack at a peace music festival, where he was injured while trying to help others.
- The murder of these six hostages, five of whom were under 27, has provoked profound collective grief in Israel. On Sunday and into Monday, hundreds of thousands poured into the streets to protest for a hostage release deal. In contrast to the protests that have taken place every week for nearly 11 months, yesterday a general strike briefly took place, reflecting the public outrage over the failure to save these hostages. The funerals for the six hostages were held on Sunday and Monday.
- In response to this weekend’s horrific news, there has been an increase in the already-intense criticism of Netanyahu’s government. Control of the Philadelphi Corridor (at the border between Gaza and Egypt) is perhaps the most contested element of Netanyahu’s negotiating position in the ceasefire talks. Many view Netanyahu’s late addition of this condition as an attempt to sabotage a deal, as it is unlikely that Hamas will concede to any deal which includes Israeli control of Philadelphi. Still, the corridor is the lifeline of Hamas, allowing them to rearm and to regain flexibility (in terms of geographical movement and coordination with partners outside of Gaza). If Israel agrees to give up control over the corridor, however, that could facilitate a ceasefire and the return of some number of living hostages.
- The security cabinet is reportedly at odds on the issue, mirroring disputes across Israeli society. With this weekend’s news, it may be more likely than in previous rounds that Netanyahu will be pushed to make a decision rather than play for time. However, Netanyahu appears to be doubling down on his claim that the Philadelphi Corridor must be prioritized to prevent the rearming of Hamas. Netanyahu made a rare public address to assert that the existential threat to Israel’s security is what must be prioritized. This “existential threat” is seen by Netanyahu and his supporters as not just Hamas, but the “Axis of Evil” overseen by the Islamic Republic in Iran.
- The IDF announced on Thursday that it launched a large-scale operation across the West Bank. The IDF claimed the operation aimed to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in cities such as Jenin, Tubas, and Tulkarem. The operation is ongoing throughout the northern West Bank. Among the deceased is Mohamed Jaber, also known as Abu Shuja’a, a leading Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander in the West Bank. Shuja’a, who had survived multiple assassination attempts, led the group’s efforts in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem.
Global Developments
The US Department of Justice seized a plane owned by Venezuelan President Maduro in the Dominican Republic, after finding evidence that the plane had been used to violate US import/export laws and sanctions. The plane was purchased by a shell company and used by Maduro to travel internationally. The seizure comes one month after Venezuela’s contested election, after which the US Department of State called for an end to political repression by Maduro’s security forces and the release of transparent electoral results.
Tensions between China and the Philippines escalated after recent collisions between coast guard vessels in the contested South China Sea. On Saturday, the Philippine Coast Guard accused a Chinese vessel of deliberately ramming one of their ships. In response, China alleged that the Philippine vessel intentionally collided with theirs. The Philippine government is calling for an investigation into the incidents, emphasizing the need for accountability and adherence to international maritime laws. Meanwhile, China maintains that its vessels were conducting lawful operations.
A recent joint military operation by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and Iraqi Security Forces in western Iraq resulted in the deaths of 15 Islamic State (IS) militants. The raid, conducted in the early hours of August 29, targeted IS operatives to reduce the group’s ability to threaten Iraqi civilians and U.S. interests in the region, according to a US military offical. During the operation, seven US military personnel were injured — five sustained wounds, and two others were hurt due to falls. All injured personnel are reported to be in stable condition. The operation faced armed IS fighters equipped with various weapons, grenades, and explosive belts, but there were no reported civilian casualties.
United States
The family of George Glezmann, an American tourist taken hostage by the Taliban in December 2022, announced they arranged for direct negotiations with the Taliban in Qatar to secure their son’s release. The stunning rebuke of Biden and Harris’ efforts to secure the release of Glezmann comes amid the mirrored failure to secure the release of 8 Americans held hostage by Hamas, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was found dead after apparent execution this past weekend.
Cyber News
Cybersecurity researchers from Recorded Future’s Insikt Group have uncovered a network set up by Iranian hackers, associated with the threat group GreenCharlie, which is allegedly linked to the Iranian government. This platform is designed to conduct targeted phishing attacks against U.S. political campaigns, using DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name System) providers to register domains that closely resemble legitimate cloud services and document-sharing platforms. The attackers employ advanced social engineering techniques to trick victims into disclosing sensitive information or downloading malware, including variants of the POWERSTAR implant. Observers have noted an uptick in such activities since May 2024, likely due to the upcoming November elections, reflecting an escalation in Iranian cyber activities targeting the US amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
A new sextortion scam is currently making the rounds via email over the past few days. More accurately, it is an upgrade of the previous (and now well-known) scam that would claim to have hacked into the recipients’ computer camera. The new variation seems to use A.I. to access public records so it can population the extortion attempt with the intended victim’s address, phone number, and even a photo of their home. Interfor’s own team members received these emails over the holiday weekend. The fraudsters ask for a payment in bitcoin in order to “make it go away.” It is safe to ignore these emails and just report them to your email provider as a phishing attempt.
Resources
US Department of State Travel Advisories
CISA: nation-state cybersecurity threats and other resources for cybersecurity matters.
Our latest blog post examines the rise of civil unrest in Western nations.