Seth J. Frantzman
Jerusalem Post, May 22, 2024
“The goal of the 98th Division is basically to complete the job. It’s like sandpaper on wood. You start with the rough grade, and you have to grind the enemy down with a more precise grade at the end.”
When the IDF decided to go back into Jabalya in early May, it was facing a known challenge. Jabalya is a densely populated urban area northeast of Gaza City’s center. It includes a refugee camp that is a key center for Hamas members.
The suburbs of Jabalya spill out over low hills and can be seen from Israeli communities, such as Mefalsim and Kfar Aza, near the border. Terrorists came from Jabalya to attack Israel on October 7.
Jabalya had supposedly been cleared of terrorists last December, during the first phase of operations in Gaza that stretched from October 27 to January. But it turns out that there were areas the IDF didn’t reach, and Hamas has returned to Jabalya and other places. Many civilians also returned, and Hamas members mixed in with them.
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