Life returns to Gaza’s streets amid ceasefire and renewed security efforts: Video
Palestinian security forces have resumed patrolling the streets of Gaza, just days after a truce between Israel and Hamas took effect, ending 15 months of conflict in the region.
In Deir al-Balah's bustling central market, security forces were seen monitoring pedestrians and traffic, a sight that brought relief to some residents. “You used to walk down the street and find your phone stolen, find your money stolen, and find anything stolen from you. Today you are walking down the street saying it casually because there is safety and security in this country,” one pedestrian shared with AFP.
The ceasefire, which began on Sunday, January 19, also included an agreement for hostage releases and has allowed some displaced residents to return home. However, according to the United Nations, hundreds of thousands of people across the Gaza Strip remain dependent on humanitarian aid.
UN spokesperson Farhan Haq, addressing journalists during a press briefing on January 21, stated that over 90% of housing units in Gaza had been either damaged or destroyed during the conflict.
