From an embankment overlooking Gaza City, there's no denying the severity of the destruction following two years of conflict.
The landscape is dominated by rubble, as the once-vibrant neighborhoods have collapsed into a monochromatic expanse of debris. The area is almost unrecognizable, with distant remnants of buildings serving as the only markers of a community that had housed tens of thousands.
Regaining control of strongholds, Israeli forces have returned multiple times to this area since the onset of hostilities, further complicating the already precarious scenario.
During a controlled visit managed by Israeli military personnel, BBC's Lucy Williamson was granted a glimpse into the state of devastation, yet the visit was strictly monitored, with no access allowed to Palestinian territories or unregulated reporting.
The Israeli military asserts that the destruction was not a primary goal, aiming instead to combat Hamas while accusing the group of utilizing civilian structures for military purposes, thus complicating the conflict situation considerably.
Recent military reports indicate over 68,000 casualties in the Gaza Strip since the fighting ignited on October 7, 2023, when over a thousand Israelis were killed in direct attacks attributed to Hamas.
As the region teeters on the edge of renewed hostility, questions surrounding disarmament and future governance remain unresolved, leaving the people of Gaza in a precarious limbo, with hopes for a sustainable peace hanging by a thread.
