On Friday, the Israeli army announced the completion of its mission and the withdrawal of forces from several parts of Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip. Israeli military spokesperson Avichai Adraee informed residents and displaced Palestinians that they could return to specific areas of Khan Younis, now classified as part of a “humanitarian zone.”
Adraee mentioned that the newly designated “safe” zones include neighborhoods in northern and central Khan Younis and areas near the northeastern boundary with Deir al-Balah.
Images shared on social media showed thousands of Palestinians returning to their homes, navigating through the ruins and rubble left by Israeli bombardments in southern Gaza, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The Israeli army stated that the 98th Division had completed its operations in Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah, which involved both ground and underground missions over the past month.
Since the conflict began on October 7 last year, more than 40,600 people have been killed in Gaza due to Israeli military actions, following Hamas’ surprise attack on southern Israeli communities that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, according to figures released by both sides.
