As the first full day of a ceasefire and hostage release deal bore out on Monday, displaced Palestinians surveyed the catastrophic destruction wrought by more than 15 months of Israel’s onslaught following the Hamas-led October 7 attacks.
Scenes emerged of children carrying toys across thick layers of debris, while others returned to carpet-bombed neighborhoods in the north.
Israeli strikes have destroyed about 60 percent of buildings, including homes, schools and hospitals, the UN reported on Thursday. The impact of Israel’s offensive has set back development in Gaza by as much as 69 years, according to the agency.
In September, the UN warned that even if a ceasefire is reached it would take 350 years for Gaza’s economy to return to its pre-war level.
