Seth Frantzman

Countries across the Middle East are making moves and preparing for President Donald Trump's incoming United States administration. Many of the region's leaders were in power during the first Trump administration and will seek to achieve their goals by working with the White House over the next four years. It is essential to bridge relations because countries have come to expect flexibility and innovative policy decisions from Trump and his team.

Hamas and other terror groups have found a way to survive and Beit Hanoun is an example of the challenge.

The group has thrived for four decades on being underestimated and it assumes this will happen again.

Israeli troops of the 769th Brigade operating in northern Israel. The brigade has conducted operations in southern Lebanon over the last month. (IDF)

Iran and Russia are angling to position themselves before the incoming Trump administration takes office next week.

The message from the Houthis is that they decide the time and place of attacks. The message they think will resonate is that they got away with this. Time will tell if this is the case.

Israeli soldiers from the Nahal Brigade operate in northern Gaza. Under the recent agreement between Israel and Hamas, the IDF will withdraw from most of Gaza. (IDF)

The Kerem Shalom crossing near Gaza in southern Israel. (Seth J. Frantzman, LWJ)

The Israel-Hamas ceasefire brokered in Qatar with backing from the Trump administration is progressing slowly and with predictable difficulty.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began in Gaza on January 19. Hamas released three Israeli hostages on the same day, the first of 33 hostages expected to be freed during the first phase of the deal. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas will take place regarding subsequent phases of the agreement. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began withdrawing troops from northern Gaza, including the 162nd Division. IDF Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi submitted his resignation, taking responsibility for the failures during the October 7 attack on Israel.