Thousands of Palestinians have returned to their homes amid the rubble of the main southern city of Gaza's Khan Younis today, after Israeli forces ended their week-long operation in the area aimed at preventing the Islamist militant group "Hamas" to regroup, Reuters reported, citing BTA.
Palestinian health officials said rescue services have so far recovered 42 bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli operations in eastern Khan Younis.
The Gaza Emergency Management Agency said more searches were underway, with 200 people still reported missing.
The Israeli military said its forces killed more than 150 Palestinian fighters during the week-long incursion, destroying tunnels and seizing weapons.
After the Israeli forces retreated, the people returned to their homes on foot or in donkey carts to carry their belongings. Many of those who returned found their houses damaged or completely destroyed, notes Reuters.
Witnesses said army forces bulldozed the main cemetery in Bani Suhaila, on the eastern outskirts of Khan Younis, which was the main focus of the operations, as well as houses and roads nearby.
Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire through mediators, which have been going on for months, have again failed, according to Reuters. Yesterday Israel and "Hamas" they traded accusations about the lack of progress.