The Israeli military blew up over 50 houses in the Shujayea neighborhood of Gaza City: watch

In a harrowing revelation, at least 60 bodies of Palestinians were discovered on the streets and in houses after the Israeli army withdrew from several neighborhoods in Gaza City, located in the northern Gaza Strip. 

The Israeli military blew up over 50 houses in the Shujayea neighborhood of Gaza City. pic.twitter.com/GGI6uTYjgQ

— In Context (@incontextmedia) December 20, 2023

The Civil Defense Service in Gaza made this announcement on Friday, following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area.

The grim task of recovering the dead began in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood and other areas west of the city. 

These efforts came after the Israeli army had launched an intense operation, citing counterterrorism objectives. 

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the operation targeted Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants and infrastructure allegedly embedded within the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) headquarters in Gaza City. 

The IDF reported finding large quantities of weapons in a compound near the UNRWA headquarters and claimed to have opened a "defined corridor" to enable civilian evacuations at the start of their operation.

The situation worsened when, on Thursday, more than 60 bodies were recovered from the rubble in Shujaiya, an eastern Gaza City neighborhood. 

This area had endured a two-week-long Israeli ground offensive. 

The scenes of devastation in Shujaiya underscore the severe human toll and destruction wrought by the ongoing conflict.

This latest offensive by Israel is part of a larger-scale retaliation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, initiated after a violent rampage by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023. 

The attack resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the taking of over 250 hostages. 

In response, Israel has intensified its military actions in Gaza, leading to significant casualties and destruction.

The Gaza-based health authorities reported on Thursday that the Palestinian death toll from the continuing Israeli attacks on Gaza has now reached a staggering 38,345. 

The relentless bombardment and ground operations have not only claimed thousands of lives but also displaced countless residents, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.

The discovery of the bodies in Shujaiya and Tal al-Hawa is a stark reminder of the brutal realities faced by Gazans amid the escalating conflict. 

The loss of life and the suffering of the civilians caught in the crossfire call for urgent international attention and a renewed push for peace and reconciliation. 

As the world watches, the need for a resolution to this protracted conflict becomes ever more pressing, with the hope that future generations might live without the shadow of war and devastation hanging over them.