In light of the escalating series of attacks linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, certain authorities express concern that counterterrorism measures may be overlooked.
In the initial six months of 2025, the USA has witnessed five high-profile terror incidents, allegedly spurred by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict or ISIS radicalization. As investigations continue into these atrocities – from the New Orleans truck attack to the Boulder Molotov cocktail incident – counterterrorism experts are growing concerned about the federal government's focus redirecting from terrorism prevention to mass deportation.
Elizabeth Neumann, a former Homeland Security assistant secretary for counterterrorism, expresses concern about repeating mistakes made prior to 9/11. A DHS official contests these allegations, stating unequivocally that the department remains committed to addressing terrorism.
As the Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies, there has been a corresponding rise in assaults, vandalism, and harassment across the nation. The war started on October 7, 2023, with a widespread Hamas ambush in Israel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths (including children) and the capture of 251 hostages, with about 20 still missing.
Since the war's inception, the death toll in Gaza has climbed to nearly 54,000, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. Law enforcement agencies and the Department of Homeland Security have consistently issued alerts, warning of terrorism vulnerabilities, particularly at large events, due to the conflict in Gaza.
The New York City Police Department, responsible for safeguarding the world's largest Jewish population outside of Israel, recently released a bulletin, emphasizing continued threats against Jewish people and institutions, especially since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war. On Thursday, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security also warned of an increased threat to the Jewish community following recent incidents in Washington, D.C., and Boulder.
However, a joint intelligence bulletin sent to law enforcement on May 23 by the DHS and FBI did not indicate any specific threats. John Cohen, a former DHS intelligence official and contributor to our website, is worried about reduced counterterrorism budgets at this time of heightened security.
Internal FBI memos suggest that members of the office's Joint Terrorism Task Force will be supporting Homeland Security-focused task forces handling immigration arrests, potentially affecting the dedication of resources towards terrorism prevention.
Neumann highlights the complacency that has emerged since the U.S.'s declared victory over ISIS in 2019 and the removal of troops from Afghanistan in 2021. She stresses that the nation's focus on issues other than terrorism could be misplaced.
In response to such concerns, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson maintains that the administration is not neglecting counterterrorism efforts in favor of immigration security. She points to terrorist attacks carried out by individuals in the U.S. illegally as evidence that the administration is committed to keeping the nation safe.
Meanwhile, many counterterrorism experts argue that foreign actors and terrorist groups like ISIS continue to step up their online efforts to radicalize and instruct converts in the U.S. and abroad[4]. Warnings from authorities include content that incites violence and provides instructions on how to carry out attacks – such as vehicle ramming and constructing bombs[4].
Former DHS official John Cohen emphasizes the dangers posed by foreign actors on social media, stating, "We're continuing to see efforts to not just inspire but instruct those individuals who are angry, who are certain, who are looking for the justification to engage in violence, to express that anger"[3].
In August 2024, two Austrian teenagers were arrested and charged with planning to attack Taylor Swift concerts. Investigators found they had been inspired by ISIS and al-Qaeda, and one had researched bomb-making techniques[3]. Such instances highlight the ongoing threat of terrorism inspired by online content.
Amidst the complexity brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, terrorist groups have capitalized on a ripe environment for manipulation[2]. Neumann cautions about the inherent vulnerabilities created during uncertain times when people are seeking answers and direction, making them more susceptible to extremist ideologies and violence[2].
With three of the recent U.S. terrorist attacks having been spurred by the Middle East conflict, experts stress the need for improved tracking of foreign domestic threat actors and their online propaganda. By keeping abreast of the types of attacks being called for and the techniques being promoted, law enforcement can better anticipate and protect potential targets[3].
Addressing the current threat landscape urgently requires a proactive response from the federal government, Neumann states, as delaying action may result in more casualties, as well as costly mistakes being repeated[1].
- Despite the ongoing focus on mass deportation, counterterrorism experts worry about repeating mistakes from before 9/11, as the ‘terror incidents’ in the USA have increased, potentially spurred by the Israel-Hamas conflict or ISIS radicalization.
- The New York City Police Department has released a bulletin, emphasizing continued threats against Jewish people and institutions, especially since the onset of the Israel-Hams war.
- Internal FBI memos suggest that members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force may be supporting Homeland Security-focused task forces handling immigration arrests, potentially affecting the dedication of resources towards terrorism prevention.
- Elizabeth Neumann, a former Homeland Security assistant secretary for counterterrorism, points out complacency since the U.S.'s declared victory over ISIS in 2019 and removal of troops from Afghanistan in 2021, arguing that the nation's focus on issues other than terrorism could be misplaced.
- Former DHS official John Cohen highlights the dangers posed by foreign actors on social media, stating, "We're continuing to see efforts to not just inspire but instruct those individuals who are angry, who are certain, who are looking for the justification to engage in violence, to express that anger."
- Amidst the complexity brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, experts stress the need for improved tracking of foreign domestic threat actors and their online propaganda, as there have been three U.S. terrorist attacks spurred by the Middle East conflict.
