Residents of Khan Younis are beginning to return home following the announcement by the Israeli military that it would withdraw its ground troops from the southern Gazan city. Prior to October 7, Khan Younis was a bustling city with over 40,000 residents. Many civilians sought refuge in the city at the onset of the conflict when Israeli military operations were concentrated in the northern Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces had been conducting operations in Khan Younis for approximately four months, deploying their largest-ever division to combat what they deemed a Hamas stronghold. The aftermath of their presence has left the city largely in ruins.
