From the Liveblog of
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Small number of Gazans return to homes in eastern Gaza; rubble cleared in Khan Younis
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleNurit Yohanan is The Times of Israel's Palestinian and Arab world correspondent
Gazan media outlets report that a relatively small number of residents returned earlier today to their homes in eastern Gaza City, in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood.
According to the reports, between dozens and a few hundred returned, although it’s not clear if all of them returned in order to stay or just visit their houses and assess the damage.
Hundreds of thousands have left the area following the advance of Israeli forces in the takeover of Gaza City. The return comes after US President Donald Trump said Hamas agreed to negotiate a ceasefire, and as the IDF halted its takeover of the city.
The IDF is blocking movement from the south northward; the families attempting to return had been staying in Gaza City but further west.
Meanwhile, the Khan Younis municipality began clearing rubble from airstrikes this morning and reopening streets “to allow easier passage for the displaced,” according to a municipal statement.
At the same time, Israeli strikes have continued over the past 24 hours. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported at noon that 66 people were killed in the past day from strikes or Israeli ground fire.
#شاهد| عدد كبير من العائلات تعود إلى بيوتها بعد إعلان الاحتلال تجميد العملية العسكرية في غزة pic.twitter.com/oE9uxL4gye
— المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام (@PalinfoAr) October 4, 2025
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