SETH J. FRANTZMAN
The IDF is continuing its operations in Jabalya, a neighborhood and suburb of Gaza City in northern Gaza. The area is home to a large number of Palestinian civilians who remained there throughout the war and also returned over the last year. It is estimated that there are hundreds of thousands of Gazans in northern Gaza, with many thousands living in Jabalya.
The military began operations in Jabalya for the third time in a year when the 162nd Division was pulled from Rafah and sent back into the area on October 6. This movement of troops set the stage for two important incidents. First, it led to the death of Yahya Sinwar, who was eliminated by troops searching Tel al-Sultan 10 days after the Jabalya operation began. Second, it has led to Israel’s demand that civilians evacuate large areas of northern Gaza.
It’s unclear if the Jabalya operation led to the finding of Sinwar. It is possible that he felt he could wander around more freely because he believed the IDF was shifting its focus to northern Gaza and Lebanon. What matters, though, is that Hamas continues to lose ground.
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