The Institute for the Study of War ADMITS that HAMAS has re-infiltrated the areas that IDF fled and were routed from. ISRAEL has lost significant ground in the north:
Palestinian militias are re-infiltrating into areas of the northern Gaza Strip where Israeli forces previously conducted clearing operations.
️ CTP-ISW has observed renewed militant activity in several neighborhoods across the northern part of the strip in recent weeks, as Israeli forces have transitioned to less intense fighting there.
️ Palestinian militias have renewed attacks, particularly around Jabalia, Sheikh Radwan, & southern Gaza City.
️ There is a similar but more limited renewal of Palestinian activity in other locations where Israeli forces previously conducted clearing operations in northern Gaza.
️ Israeli forces are returning to areas that they had recently left, according to Reuters, which is consistent with the likely re-infiltration of Palestinian militants.
️ The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on December 31, 2023, that it withdrew five brigades from the northern Gaza Strip and said that it would transition to targeted raids with its remaining forces.
️ CTP-ISW assessed on January 2, 2024, that the IDF transitioning to this new phase of operations will very likely enable Hamas to reconstitute itself militarily.
Mike