2024-07-13 11:03:19
Israeli forces withdrew overnight from several areas of Gaza City after a week-long fierce military offensive, Reuters and BTA 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.
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 the release of Israeli hostages. , abducted 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 from the Tell al-Hawa neighborhood to the Sabra neighborhood.
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 just yet.
“Bodies are scattered in the streets, torn bodies, there are bodies of whole families, the bodies of a whole family were found in a house that was completely burned,” the spokesman for the Gaza Civil Defense Service told Hamas-controlled media. Mahmoud Bazal.
Israel’s 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 minimize harm to the civilian population.” The military added that it could not to say 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 wounding many people. The Israeli military has so far not commented on the claims. .