TESTIMONY. "We were all surprised" : residents of the Gaza Strip return to Khan Younes after the withdrawal of Israeli troops
Cairo: Hani Kamal El-Din
As soon as she learned of the departure of Israeli troops from the south of the Gaza Strip, Samira jumped in a taxi towards Khan Younes. “We were all surprisedshe says. We did not imagine that the Israelis had left the cities. We stayed on the news to make sure they were gone and decided to go check it out.” If some have already returned to their city to collect belongings, Palestinians now hope to be able to return to live in Khan Younes while the Israeli army “prepares” to an offensive in Rafah.
Samira went to see her apartment which she had to leave three months ago on orders from the Israeli army and which, like Khan Younès, suffered significant damage. “It was a bit difficult because it was hit by Israeli attacksshe says. There is no water, no electricity, no Internet. But we have to live in this situation.”
For weeks, Khan Younes has been the scene of incessant airstrikes and fierce fighting between Hamas and the Israeli army, which claims to have dismantled the Islamist movement in the city. “They destroyed a lot of tunnels and houses”explains Samira.
This Palestinian does not hide the fact that the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers has given her hope of a ceasefire, but not only that: “A lot of people hate Hamas and don’t want Hamas to stay here. We hope the war will end one day.” Her dearest wish is to celebrate the end of Ramadan starting Tuesday evening at her home in Khan Younès, surrounded by her family.
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