Following Israel's announcement of troop withdrawal from the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis, some displaced Palestinians are cautiously making their way back home. Video footage reveals a city in ruins, with rubble and debris littering roads that bear the scars of heavy fighting and Israeli bombardment.
The footage captures a somber scene of a few dozen individuals navigating through devastated streets, struggling to move on bicycles, donkey carts, and pick-up trucks over the damaged infrastructure. Some residents are seen atop destroyed buildings, sifting through piles of rubble in search of belongings.
Inside a building, Arabic markings on the wall read: 'Gaza is for the Jews.' The Israeli military confirmed the withdrawal of ground forces after an intense four-month conflict. The 98th division, the military's largest-ever division, was specifically deployed to target what was deemed a significant Hamas stronghold in Khan Younis.
During the initial stages of the conflict, thousands of Palestinian civilians sought refuge in Khan Younis, a city that was home to over 40,000 people before October 7. The footage, captured shortly after the Israeli forces pulled out, shows smoke rising in the city center, where most structures have been reduced to rubble. The few remaining buildings stand as stark reminders of the destruction that has taken place.
