Early in the conflict with Hamas, Israeli forces moved from the north to the south of the Gaza Strip, encountering fierce resistance in the Gaza City neighborhood of Shajaiye. In December, nine Israeli soldiers lost their lives there, marking one of the wars deadliest days for Israel.With Shajaiye and Gaza City seemingly pacified, Israeli troops shifted their focus to Rafah, Hamass last major stronghold. This led to Palestinian civilians, who had previously fled Gaza City, starting to return. However, on Thursday, these civilians faced new evacuations as Israel ordered eastern Gaza City residents to leave, citing heavy strikes and casualties reported by Palestinian officials. The strikes reportedly hit Shajaiye again, creating a chaotic scene of people scrambling to escape amid ongoing explosions.On Friday, the Israeli military launched a targeted operation in Shajaiye against Hamas fighters and infrastructure. The U.N. Office of Humanitarian Affairs reported that 60,000 to 80,000 people were displaced from the east and northeast areas of Gaza City overnight.Persistent ConflictIsraeli forces have found themselves repeatedly returning to previously cleared areas in Gaza, especially in the north, as Hamas fighters regroup. Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus claims of a new, less intense phase of the conflict, fighting continues to escalate.International CriticismFrustration is mounting both within Israel and globally over Netanyahus perceived lack of a clear plan for governing Gaza post-Hamas. Daniel Byman, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, emphasized the importance of a counterinsurgency strategy summarized as “clear, hold, build.” He criticized Israeli forces for focusing on immediate military objectives without planning for subsequent steps.Casualties and DestructionGazan health authorities reported that 15 people were killed and dozens injured in Shajaiye on Thursday. The Palestinian emergency service, Civil Defense, noted that five homes were hit in Shajaiye and another neighborhood, with ongoing searches for missing individuals. These casualty figures have not been independently verified.
