"We stood at the edge of an Israeli military outpost, looking out at what used to be the bustling Shujaiya neighborhood outside Gaza City. It was the scene of fierce fighting during the war. Now it is a wasteland of destruction. The tall high-rise buildings not demolished in Gaza City are seen in the far distance. Around them is a vast monochrome expanse as far as the eye can see."
"They are living on the other side of Gaza under Hamas control. The military showed us a map of Hamas tunnel routes Israeli forces are still discovering and demolishing in the area. Israel has allowed Hamas and the International Committee of the Red Cross to access this area to uncover the bodies of hostages taken in the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023."
Northern Gaza is largely destroyed and unusually quiet, with neighborhoods such as Shujaiya reduced to rubble and ruined buildings. Israeli forces maintain a fortified presence along a "yellow line" that divides Gaza and prevent Palestinians from returning to the areas they control. The opposite half of Gaza remains under Hamas control. Israeli troops continue to find and demolish tunnel networks attributed to Hamas. Israel permitted limited access by Hamas and the International Committee of the Red Cross to recover bodies of hostages from the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Plans call for a multinational peacekeeping force and Hamas disarmament as next steps.
Read at www.npr.org
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