Hamas Palestinian Islamic Jihad Popular Resistance Committees Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades Palestinian Mujahideen Movement Yahya Sinwar † Mohammed Deif † Izz al Din al Haddad Palestinian Joint Operations Room Israeli Defence Forces The insurgency in the northern Gaza Strip was an armed conflict centered in the North Gaza Governorate, beginning after Israel announced it had dismantled 12 Al-Qassam Brigades battalions on 7 January 2024, as part of the Israel–Hamas war.

[20] Al-Qassam brigades ambushed Israeli forces in the Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood on 31 January, targeting two Merkava tanks, damaging one and an IDF Caterpillar D9.

The armed wings of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed that their militants are targeting nearby IDF forces with mortars, anti-tank missiles, and machine guns.

[22] In January 2024, Channel 13 News said that IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi warned Israeli leadership in private that their military gains could be eroded without a plan for the post-war management in Gaza.

[23] In late February, Israeli forces targeted the Zeitoun district in southwestern Gaza City with two brigades, announcing they were attacking paramilitaries in close quarters combat and with missile strikes.

[25] On May 9, Israel renewed operations in North Gaza, sending a force into the Zeitoun district which had faced a major battle months prior.