Battle of Jabalia

The battle of Jabalia was a battle that began on 8 November 2023 in the midst of the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip.

8 November
An IDF combat team engaged in 10 hours of fighting in western Jabalia on November 8, during which it seized weapons and exposed tunnel shafts. The al Quds Brigades launched mortars at Israeli forces operating in the area.

18 November
IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that Israeli forces had expanded clearing operations to additional neighborhoods in Gaza City, as the IDF 162nd Division began operating on the outskirts of Jabalia. An IDF spokesperson claimed that Hamas’ northern brigade maintained a command and control center and critical strongholds in Jabalia.

19 November
The IDF Nahal Brigade moved from the Al-Shati refugee camp toward Jabalia City to support offensive operations in the area.

20 November
Israel said its forces encircled Jabalia on the night of November 20–21 as fighters conducted attacks on the Israeli lines of advance.

21 November
The IDF reported that the Israeli Air Force and artillery forces bombarded the Jabalia area north of Gaza city to “prepare” the battlefield. The IDF told also residents to evacuate from Jabalia.

5 December
The commander of the IDF Southern Command said that the IDF was operating in the “core” of Jabalia

6 December
The IDF stated on that its Nahal Brigade was fighting militants in Jabalia.

7 December
The IDF 460th Brigade raided an outpost for Hamas’ Central Jabalia Battalion in the al Bisan area of Jabalia. In addition Israeli forces killed several militants and located a network of underground tunnels, a training complex, and a weapons warehouse near the Hamas battalion's post.

9 December
Israeli forces raided a series of buildings in Jabalia containing Hamas militants and weapons and advanced to the al Sheikh Radwan Pool southwest of Jabalia city. Additionally, Israeli forces called in a drone strike to support their maneuvers in the city.

11 December
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Hamas’ Jabalia Battalion was “on the verge of being dismantled.” Israeli forces captured Hamas military infrastructure in Jabalia, including explosives manufacturing facilities, training facilities, and weapons caches.

19 December
IDF Brigadier General Itzik Cohen said that the fighting in Jabalia "resulted in the dismantling of the military capacity” of Hamas’ North Gaza Brigade.

31 May
On 31 May 2024, the IDF withdrew from Jabalia after over two weeks of intense fighting and more than 200 airstrikes. Palestinian officials said that 70% of the refugee camp was destroyed. The Israeli military said that it had destroyed over 10 kilometers of tunnels that it says the militants used. The Israeli military also said that it had destroyed a number of weapons production sites and rocket launchers. During the weeks-long operation, troops recovered the bodies of seven Israeli hostages.

Reactions
Hamas: on May 19 Hamas condemned the "barbaric attacks" on Jabalia after the Israeli forces increased their attacks in the city, the group calls for the international community to stop the attacks.