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Israeli Army Leaning Towards Calming Situation With Hamas, Shin Bet Supports Return of PA to Gaza

Israeli security forces stand in Jerusalem’s Old City, March 18, 2018. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
Israeli security forces stand in Jerusalem’s Old City, March 18, 2018. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
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Israeli Army Leaning Towards Calming Situation With Hamas, Shin Bet Supports Return of PA to Gaza

Israeli security forces stand in Jerusalem’s Old City, March 18, 2018. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
Israeli security forces stand in Jerusalem’s Old City, March 18, 2018. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Israel has sent a new threat message to Hamas, stating that it will not hesitate to face the launch of incendiary balloons from the Gaza Strip, even if this leads to a new confrontation.

According to media reports, Israel informed Hamas through a third party, that if it continues to fire incendiary and explosive balloons, there will be a response, regardless of its implications.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that the security and military establishment was currently studying Hamas’ intentions and whether the movement really wanted to reach a truce agreement or not.

The Israeli army and the Shin Bet security service have disagreements over this issue, as the army pushes towards patience and supports reaching an agreement; while the Shin Bet apparently believes that the movement may increase escalatory measures, including the launching of balloons.

The head of the Shin Bet security service, Nadav Argaman, warned the members of the mini cabinet against the consequences of maintaining financial pressure on the Palestinian Authority, while the Israeli government was working to empower Hamas. He said that the PA was a partner in combating “terrorism”, and its stability was an Israeli interest.

“There is a need to avoid any path to destabilize it [the PA]; instead, it is important to strengthen its security apparatus,” Argaman was quoted as saying.

The Shin Bet chief recommended that a settlement be reached with the Authority, which he said would allow for its gradual return to the Gaza Strip.

The Shin Bet warned against responding to Hamas’ military activities in a way that could be interpreted as a “weakness in front of terrorism,” adding that the movement was not serious about reaching a truce agreement.

The Israeli Army, on the other hand, supports the adoption of a calm approach and regards the launching of incendiary balloons as temporary.

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Syrian Interior Ministry Arrests ISIS Cell Responsible for Church Attack

People gather at Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Damascus following the suicide bombing on Sunday, June 22, 2025 (EPA) 
People gather at Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Damascus following the suicide bombing on Sunday, June 22, 2025 (EPA) 
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Syrian Interior Ministry Arrests ISIS Cell Responsible for Church Attack

People gather at Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Damascus following the suicide bombing on Sunday, June 22, 2025 (EPA) 
People gather at Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Damascus following the suicide bombing on Sunday, June 22, 2025 (EPA) 

Hours after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed that those involved in a “heinous” suicide attack on a Damascus church a day earlier would face justice, Syria’s Interior Ministry said authorities had arrested several suspects in connection with the attack.

The shooting and suicide bombing Sunday at the Mar Elias church in the Dweila district of the Syrian capital killed 25 people and injured 63 others, according to the Health Ministry.

“In coordination with the General Intelligence Service, the Ministry carried out security operations against ISIS-linked terrorist cells in the Damascus countryside, arresting a cell leader and five members, and killing two others affiliated with the terrorist attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus,” the Syrian Interior Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

“During the raid, quantities of weapons and ammunition were seized, in addition to explosive vests and mines. A motorcycle bomb that had been prepared for detonation was also found,” it said.

On Monday, the Syrian President expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the church bombing.

He said “this heinous crime that targeted innocent people in their worship places reminds us of the importance of solidarity and unity –government and people- in confronting threats to our security and the stability of our country.”

Sharaa added, “Today, we all stand united, rejecting injustice and crime in all its forms. We pledge to the victims that we will work day and night, mobilizing all our specialized security services, to apprehend all those who participated in and planned this heinous crime and bring them to justice to face their just punishment.”

The attack is the first such bombing in Damascus since the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime. It raised fear among the people.

Commenting on the attack, a man in his 70s described the attack as “a huge and horrible strike,” stressing the need for “the authorities to tighten security measures on churches, all places of worship, and busy places.”

On Monday, Asharq Al-Awsat spotted heavy deployment of local security agents in the capital’s neighborhoods and major roads, amid heightened security measures.

Adbdulrahman Alhaj, a researcher in Islamic studies, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Interior Ministry statement that linked the attack to an ISIS suicide attack is a suggestion that the ministry’s spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba had mentioned in his Sunday press briefing.

Alhaj said he supports the ministry’s conclusions as ISIS had recently issued several threats signaling plans to confront the new regime in Damascus particularly, al-Sharaa.