The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli media have shared new details about a significant operation in northern Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of 106 Hamas operatives in approximately two hours, without any Israeli casualties.
The operation is being described as one of the most successful nights of the war for Israeli forces.
The mission followed the conclusion of the siege at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Jabaliya, during which the IDF apprehended over 240 operatives linked to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Intelligence indicated that a large-scale attack was being planned by the terrorists, aimed at breaking through the besieged Jabaliya camp under the cover of darkness and heavy rain. The plan also suggested an attempt to escape from northern Gaza to the south.
Acting on this intelligence, the IDF established ambushes under the same cover of darkness, positioning forces from the Givati Brigade, the 401st Armored Brigade, and the Multi-Dimensional Unit (also known as the Ghost Unit). The troops engaged terrorist squads as they approached, using small arms, tanks, and drones to neutralize the threat.
The operatives were equipped with AK-47 rifles or military vests, though many moved in small, unarmed groups to access hidden weapons caches stored in civilian areas.
One of the most significant clashes occurred late at night when 30 terrorists attempted to flank a position held by Givati’s Shaked Battalion. The aftermath of the battle revealed 16 dead from this group alone. The 401st Brigade’s 52nd Battalion reported 24 kills, identifying all as Hamas operatives through intelligence.
By the operation’s conclusion, 106 operatives were killed, two surrendered, and one was captured alive—an uncommon event in recent Gaza clashes. However, the scale of the attempted attack has raised questions about the challenges of fully neutralizing threats in the densely populated urban area.
Despite months of operations in Jabaliya, the IDF acknowledges the persistence of remaining threats, with intelligence estimating that around 100 to 200 terrorists remain in the area.
This comes after the elimination of approximately 2,500 terrorists and the capture of around 1,950 in northern Gaza over recent months. Efforts to evacuate civilians have reportedly been effective, as troops have not encountered civilians on the streets in recent operations.