By Ramzi Mahmoud
GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - The Israeli army on Thursday withdrew from parts of Gaza City and North Gaza governorate for the first time since it started its ground offensive on Oct. 27.
Military vehicles completely withdrew from the neighborhoods of At-Tawam, Al-Karama, and Rashid Street in the western region of North Gaza governorate, according to an Anadolu correspondent.
The army also pulled out from the neighborhoods of Al-Amn Al-Aam, Al-Muqawsi, Intelligence Towers, Bahloul, and Rashid Street in Gaza City, the correspondent added.
Several residents told Anadolu that they managed to reach their homes for the first time since the start of Israel’s ground offensive on Jan. 27.
Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, killing at least 26,900 Palestinians and injuring 65,949. Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.
The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.
*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Ankara