Israeli forces have withdrawn were withdrawn overnight from several areas of Gaza City after a week-long fierce military offensive, Reuters reported, citing local residents and rescue services. The operation left dozens of people dead and houses and roads in ruins in the enclave's most populous city, BTA said.
Ten months after the start of Israel's military campaign to eliminate Hamas, the offensive in Gaza City comes as US-backed mediators try to finalize a peace deal that would lead to a ceasefire and release of Israeli hostages kidnapped by Palestinian rebels during their October 7 attack.
Gaza's civil emergency service said teams have recovered more than 60 bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the past week. They were found from the area of the neighborhood of "Tel al Hawa" to the "Sabra" district.
Most residents and rescue teams said that while Israeli forces withdrew from some areas, Israeli snipers and tanks continued to control the higher parts of the city, warning people not to return to their homes yet.
“Bodies are scattered in the streets, torn bodies, there are bodies of entire families, the bodies of an entire family were found in a home that was completely burned down,” he told the “Hamas“ the spokesman of the civil protection service in the Gaza Strip Mahmoud Bazal.
The Israeli military said yesterday that its forces in Gaza City were working to eliminate Hamas capabilities in the city, and that it was “abiding by international law and taking possible measures to reduce harm to the civilian population”. The military adds that this cannot be said about “Hamas”.
The armed wings of “Hamas” and "Islamic Jihad" said they waged fierce battles against Israeli forces, attacking them with anti-tank rockets and mortars, killing and injuring many. So far, the Israeli army has not commented on these claims.