CAIRO/KHAN YOUNIS: Thousands of Palestinians returned to their homes in the ruins of Gaza’s main southern city Khan Younis on Tuesday, after Israeli forces ended a week-long incursion there which they said aimed to prevent Hamas from regrouping.
Palestinian rescue workers and civilians collected dead bodies from the streets of the abandoned battle zone, bringing corpses wrapped in rugs to morgues in cars and donkey carts.
Gaza media office said Israel’s eight-day-long raid in eastern areas of Khan Younis killed 255 Palestinians and wounded more than 300 others. At leas 30 people remained missing.
The Israeli military said its forces killed more than 150 gunmen during the week-long raid, destroyed tunnels and seized weapons.
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After the Israeli forces left, people streamed back to their homes on foot and with carts carrying their belongings. Many found their houses damaged or destroyed. Hamas media office said more than 300 homes had been hit by Israeli fire during the raid, at least 30 of them inhabited when they were struck.
Witnesses said army forces had bulldozed the main cemetery in Bani Suhaila, the town on the eastern outskirts of Khan Younis that was the main focus of the raid, as well as houses and roads nearby.
“I am coming back and I have faith in God. I don’t know whether we will live or die, but it is all for the sake of the homeland,” said Etimad Al-Masri, who had walked for at least five km back to her home.
“Despite the suffering, we are patient and God’s willing we will have victory.”
Many residents said they had been displaced from their homes several times.
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“We hope there will be a ceasefire and calm. We hope that they act on a ceasefire so that we can live in security and safety,” said Walid Abu Nsaira, holding some of his belongings on his shoulder as he walked back home.
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