The IDF has managed to surround and contain Hamas terrorists in the Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.
This is how they did it:
In a lightning-fast operation carried out over the course of a single night, the IDF deployed three brigades - 460, Givati, and 401 - to surround the camp, evacuate the civilians living there and isolate the terrorists to prevent their escape
An IDF spokesperson stated, ""The surprise for Hamas was absolute. We trapped hundreds of terrorists, including senior commanders, inside the camp. Hamas had been using the civilian population as human shields for over a week, even shooting at residents who tried to leave."
The IDF's coordinated efforts led to the evacuation of over 50,000 residents from Jabalya. Approximately 600 terrorists subsequently surrendered and turned themselves in at drainage sites set up by the military, while hHundreds more were eliminated in the fighting.
One of the most important things that happened was the IDF surrounded the Kamal Adwan Hospital, which was serving as a Hamas command center. After intelligence indicated that dozens of terrorists were in in the facility, a force from the elite Shayetet 13 commando unit stormed the hospital, capturing an additional 60 militants.
"This is not the organized battalions and companies we faced a year ago," a senior IDF commander said. "They are on the verge of collapse, with a much lower fighting capability. We didn't see anything like the 600 terrorists raising their hands in surrender this time."
While pockets of resistance remain in the center of the refugee camp, the IDF believes the "Jabalya story" has fundamentally changed. "Despite the fighting not being completely over, the situation is no longer what it was just a few days ago," the spokesperson added.
Maariv contributed to this article.