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Shujaiyya: Hamas's Shattered Stronghold
(Israel Hayom) Neta Bar - Shujaiyya's easternmost houses are a kilometer from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, which was held by Hamas for 12 hours on Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas killed 12 residents and took others hostage. The area, once home to one of Hamas's most formidable offensive units, now lies in ruins. Our entry into eastern Shujaiyya in unarmored Humvees speaks volumes about the IDF's current control. Few buildings remain standing. Climbing a gutted apartment building, we navigate crumbling staircases to witness an unexpected sight, a relatively intact room serving as the "fire platoon's" forward position. Drones, batteries, and viewing screens are neatly arranged. From this makeshift command center, the platoon wages a distinctly 21st-century war. Platoon commander Paz Buskila explains, "We started with a single drone for reconnaissance. Now, we can not only pinpoint targets accurately but also deploy drone-dropped munitions." Lt.-Col. Yonatan Schneider, a battalion commander in the Paratroopers Brigade, says, "Many of the terrorists we've eliminated in Shujaiyya - it's thanks to these guys right here."