North Gaza Governorate in the context of "Jabalia"

The siege of North Gaza was an engagement of the Gaza war in the North Gaza Governorate, Gaza Strip, between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian forces. It began on 5 October 2024 when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reinvaded Jabalia and its refugee camp for the first time in months since earlier fighting.

The siege was reportedly part of Israel's "generals' plan" to force Palestinians out of northern Gaza by designating it a combat zone and issuing evacuation orders to civilians under threat of death. The IDF imposed a complete siege on northern Gaza, cutting it off from Gaza City by destroying most of the roads leading south and preventing the entry of aid. Evacuations were hindered, however, by Israeli bombardments and shootings of fleeing civilians, leaving many trapped. Human rights groups raised concerns of war crimes, and Israeli actions were characterized as ethnic cleansing and genocide. Israel attacked hospitals and medical infrastructure, as international bodies warned of disastrous conditions in Jabalia.

The population of the Gaza Strip is undergoing a famine as a result of an Israeli blockade during the Gaza war that prevents basic essentials and humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, as well as airstrikes that have destroyed food infrastructure, such as bakeries, mills, and food stores, causing a widespread scarcity of essential supplies. Humanitarian aid has also been blocked by protests at borders and ports. Increasing societal breakdown in Gaza, including looting, has also been cited as a barrier to the provision of aid.

As of August 2025, Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) projections show 100% of the population are experiencing "high levels of acute food insecurity", and 32% are projected to face Phase 5 catastrophic levels by 30 September 2025. On 22 August 2025, the IPC said that famine is taking place in one of the five governorates in the Gaza Strip: specifically, the Gaza Governorate which includes Gaza City. The IPC added that, within the next month, famine was likely to also occur in both the Deir al-Balah Governorate and Khan Yunis Governorate. The IPC had insufficient data on the North Gaza Governorate for a classification but concluded that conditions were likely similar or worse than in the Gaza Governorate. Within the next 6 weeks as of 16 August, the number of people in IPC Phase 5 is expected to rise from 500,000 to over 640,000.

Jabalia Camp (Arabic: مخيّم جباليا) is a Palestinian refugee camp in the North Gaza Governorate of the Gaza Strip, 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) north of Jabalia. It is the closest camp to the Erez Crossing between Gaza and Israel. Jabalia Camp is the largest refugee camp in Palestine, with more than 100,000 inhabitants. The camp only covers an area of 1.4 km (0.54 sq mi), making it one of the most densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip.

The camp was established in 1948 by the United Nations to house those displaced by the 1948 Palestinian expulsion. Originally composed of tents and other temporary structures, over time the population grew and the camp developed into a densely populated urban area with multi-story buildings.

The Israeli generals' plan refers to a siege strategy proposed by former Israeli general Giora Eiland during the Gaza war. The plan would evacuate Northern Gaza from its residents, and label all people remaining there as military operatives, thus allowing to block supplies such as food and medication from entering the area.

The plan was considered by the Israeli government, though was not officially adopted. However, there have been signs that Israel has implemented parts of the plan since October 2024, specifically during the Siege of North Gaza. The strategy has been criticized for its humanitarian impact, which some allege to be genocidal and ethnic cleansing.