Following a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City, rescue crews have retrieved the bodies of 30 individuals, according to Fares Afaneh, an ambulance and emergency official in the northern Gaza Strip.
According to a report by Al Jazeera, the bodies were discovered in the area of al-Sina’a Street and the broader Tal al-Hawa region, casualties of recent Israeli shelling.
Afaneh reported that the bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition, a grim consequence of the delay in access for ambulance crews due to the ongoing conflict. "The Israeli army partially withdrew from the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City, and we found the bodies of 30 martyrs from the area of al-Sina’a Street and the Tal al-Hawa area," Afaneh stated, emphasizing the severe conditions under which these victims were found.
In addition to recovering the deceased, emergency crews have also been able to transfer several injured individuals to medical facilities. However, Afaneh cautioned that there are likely many more victims still trapped under the rubble, highlighting the urgent need for further rescue operations. “We transferred a number of injured people, but there are large numbers of martyrs still under the rubble,” he added.
The Israeli military’s recent operations in Tal al-Hawa have resulted in significant destruction of the neighborhood's infrastructure. Buildings and residential towers have been heavily damaged or destroyed, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the area. The devastation has made rescue efforts more challenging and has increased the risk for both the remaining civilians and the emergency personnel attempting to aid them.
The partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Tal al-Hawa comes amid a broader pattern of military operations and subsequent retreats, often leaving behind severe damage and significant casualties. The ongoing conflict has strained the resources of emergency services in Gaza, as they struggle to provide care and recover bodies in increasingly dangerous and difficult conditions.