Israel Moves Against Hamas Reconstitution in North Gaza’s Jabalya

Latest Developments​

Israeli ground forces moved back into Jabalya on October 6 with the intent of preventing Hamas from reconstituting its forces in the northern Gaza Strip district. Tanks and troops from the 162nd Division of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stormed into the city under cover of darkness as the IDF issued new instructions to Palestinian civilians in the area to evacuate southward to expanded humanitarian zones. Three Israeli soldiers were wounded in clashes with Palestinian terrorists, who also fired two rockets across the border toward the Israeli city of Ashkelon, sending residents running into bomb shelters but causing no damage or casualties.

The IDF said there are intelligence indications of preparations by Hamas to muster in the Jabalya area for cross-border rocket launches, ambushes of IDF forces, and attempts to penetrate into Israeli territory. Israel is bracing for a possible attempt by Palestinians displaced from the northern Gaza Strip — a strategic area that was Hamas’s former governance hub — to return en masse on the anniversary of the terrorist organization’s brutal attack into Israel. The October 7, 2023 attack triggered the current multi-front war on the Jewish state directed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Expert Analysis​

“Israel said from the outset that the counter-terrorist campaign in Gaza would consist of eroding Palestinian capabilities and will to fight with repeat raids. There are indications that Israel may be moving back into northern Gaza for the longer-term to finally dislodge Hamas terrorists and take over the distribution of food and aid to civilians.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“Hamas attempting to organize forces in the northern Gaza Strip is not an unexpected development. It’s for this reason that Israeli government officials have previously warned that it may take an extended period to eliminate Hamas’s ability to be an effective and organized fighting force. Meanwhile, a significant hurdle Israel must contend with is keeping Hamas and its allies in Gaza at bay while simultaneously managing escalating conflicts on other fronts.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and editor at FDD’s Long War Journal 

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