Gaza: Palestinians recover bodies and survey destruction after Israeli withdrawal

Search and rescue teams in Gaza recovered at least 35 bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the early hours following the military’s withdrawal from most urban areas on Friday morning.

The majority of the bodies were found in Gaza City, which had been the focus of intensified Israeli air strikes in recent weeks.

After troops pulled back from parts of the city, residents reported widespread destruction across entire residential blocks.

Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Palestinian Civil Defence in Gaza, described “massive destruction” across the besieged enclave during on-ground inspections.

He warned that ordnance and explosive robots remain in the area, urging civilians to stay clear of such objects as they pose a serious danger to life.

“I want to highlight that some homes where [Israeli forces] were stationed have been booby-trapped and have not yet exploded. Civilians returning to these homes may be shocked to find them filled with explosives.”

Meanwhile, authorities in Gaza have called on the public to cooperate during the upcoming “recovery phase”, announcing that security forces will be deployed throughout the Strip to restore order.

Separately, the Palestinian health ministry said Israeli forces killed 17 people on Thursday, just hours after mediators announced that a ceasefire agreement had been reached.

This brings the overall death toll in Gaza to 67,211 since 7 October 2023, including more than 20,000 children. Over 80 percent of those killed are civilians, according to leaked Israeli military data. 

Around 10,000 more people are missing and believed to be dead, trapped beneath the rubble.

No deaths or injuries were reported on Friday.

دمار واسع في الشيخ رضوان شمال غرب مدينة غزة عقب انسحاب قوات الاحتلال pic.twitter.com/WZSUCJQAp1

— التلفزيون العربي (@AlarabyTV) October 10, 2025

Translation: Widespread destruction in Sheikh Radwan, northwest of Gaza City, following the withdrawal of occupation forces

On Thursday, Tom Fletcher, the UN relief chief, outlined critical plans for the reconstruction of Gaza at the UN Headquarters, including a "massive scale-up" in shelter provision, water and sanitation infrastructure, aid distribution efforts, schooling and medical care.

Since October 2023, Israel has waged a deadly campaign of bombardment across the blockaded Strip, compounded by the restriction of essential humanitarian services and aid.

As a result, much of Gaza’s infrastructure - including homes, schools, universities, mosques, churches, public spaces and health centres - has been reduced to rubble.

On Friday at 12pm local time (9am GMT), a fragile ceasefire began after Israel and Hamas approved a deal to end the war and exchange prisoners. 

The next stage of the agreement is scheduled for midday on Monday - 72 hours after the withdrawal is complete - when 20 living Israeli captives and several bodies are expected to be released.

In exchange, Israel will release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences.

At least 400 aid trucks are also expected to enter Gaza, though there have been no reports of their arrival so far.