Palestinian civilians returned to their ruined homes in the southern city of Khan Younis on Monday to find few bodies left in the rubble and bodies rotting after the sudden withdrawal of Israeli troops.

“It smells like death,” mother of four Maha Tell told AFP. “We don’t have cities anymore – just ruins. There’s absolutely nothing left.

“All the streets were bulldozed. There was a smell… I saw people digging and taking out bodies.”

Gaza’s second-largest city had a pre-war population of about 400,000, according to census data, and aerial photos showed that few buildings remained undamaged after months of bombardment by Israeli forces.

Ambulance workers found 56 bodies in Khan Younis on Monday, Al Jazeera reported, citing local medical staff. Some families held simple memorial services.

The Palestinian Red Crescent emergency services released photos of the wreckage of Amal hospital and reported the destruction of “medical equipment, nursing rooms, intensive care units… emergency operating rooms and ambulances.”

But local sources say thousands of families are flocking back to the city Inot to be intimidated by the destruction.

After the Israeli occupying forces withdrew from the vicinity of the PRCS Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis yesterday, the severe damage to the hospital facilities became apparent. Occupying forces raided the hospital, resulting in… pic.twitter.com/K681ncqupk

— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) April 8, 2024

Ruwaida Amer, a journalist who stayed in the city due to evacuation orders, said she was happy that many of her neighbors were back but sad that many had nowhere to go.

“My aunt completely lost her home and her area was completely destroyed, but they would return to the area,” she said. “Many people considered pitching a tent on the ruins of a house. She would have done the same.”

Media consultant Khalil Abu Shammala, whose home is in Khan Yunis, said the city and its surrounding areas had suffered the most damage in Gaza.

“Khan Younis may be [site of the] The biggest destruction of the past six months,” he said. “Without infrastructure, there is no possibility of habitation, either in the Khan Younis refugee camp, in the city of Khan Younis or in the east of Khan Younis. “

Mr Abu Shamala said no house in the camp had escaped “partial or total” damage. In some areas, returning residents said they could not even find a trace of their homes. But the city’s residents are determined to return home.

“I saw so many people and so many cars driving from Rafah to Khan Younis,” he said. “A lot of people went to see if their houses were still there. Others went to set up some of their goods. I’m not sure if they would stay there or return to their tents [in refugee camps]”.

Several aid organizations are reportedly operating in the city, but it is unclear whether they have the capacity to meet the sharp increase in demand.A representative of a group told I Due to a communication outage, they were unable to connect with the team in the group.

Israel said it opened fire on Monday at a site near an aid distribution center, claiming it targeted a Hamas rocket launcher.