Devastation in Khan Younis
After Israeli forces withdrew from the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Sunday, thousands of Gazans returned to find that "everything is destroyed."
Malak, 13, was among the thousands of Palestinians who came back to search through the rubble of their homes, hoping to find any belongings that might have survived. She found nothing left.
"Everything is destroyed. There is no life here anymore," she told CBS News. "Our dreams are gone and so is our childhood… I wished to go back home and study, but all is gone."
Small towns around Khan Younis, as well as the city itself, were destroyed as the Israel Defense Forces spent weeks battling Hamas, with houses, factories and schools all reduced to rubble. Israel launched its war on the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers in response to the Palestinian group's Oct. 7 terror attack, which Israeli officials say left some 1,200 people dead and more than 200 others captive in Gaza.
More than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in the territory since Israel launched its offensive, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, which does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths.
Desperate Situation in Gaza as Conflict Continues
Heartbreaking scenes continue to unfold in Gaza as the conflict between Israel and Hamas persists. Suha Abdelghani, a mother of seven, sat amidst the rubble of her destroyed home in Khan Younis, devastated by the impact of the war. Her husband, who used to work in Israel to support the family, lost his job, leaving them with nothing.
"My husband lost his job and we lost our home," Suha tearfully expressed. "I have nowhere to go with my children. Everything is gone… I won't be able to rebuild my home again in Gaza."
Meanwhile, Israel continued its airstrikes in Gaza as negotiations for a cease-fire and the release of Israeli hostages were underway in Cairo. Hamas indicated that they were considering a new proposal that included a temporary halt to the fighting, the exchange of hostages, and increased aid deliveries to Gaza.
Despite these efforts, a Hamas spokesperson revealed that recent negotiations faced setbacks. Israel's military presence in Gaza has reduced to one division, strategically positioned along the border and in the north of the territory. The IDF mentioned that the troops withdrawn from Gaza are regrouping and getting ready for potential future missions.
Amidst strong opposition from the United States, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that Israel had finalized plans for a ground offensive in the southern city of Rafah, located just south of Khan Younis. The city is currently home to approximately 1.5 million people seeking shelter, although Netanyahu did not disclose the exact date for the offensive.
"We have clearly communicated to Israel our concerns that a large-scale military intervention in Rafah would have devastating consequences for the civilians residing there, and it would ultimately undermine Israel's security," stated State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on Monday.
Furthermore, Vice President Kamala Harris is set to meet with the families of American hostages who were captured by Hamas or other militant groups in Gaza on October 7th, during her visit to the United States on Tuesday.
