An army jeep rattled along a bumpy road near the Israel-Gaza border, where the devastation of war was evident. Just a few hundred meters from the border fence, the landscape was marked by crumbled buildings and deep crevices carved by tanks. The area, once bustling, now resembled a wasteland, with the sounds of distant artillery and buzzing drones serving as reminders of ongoing conflict.

Hours after the media visit, Israel launched airstrikes across Gaza in response to alleged ceasefire violations by Hamas. Despite the tension, the atmosphere during the visit was eerily calm, with only a few stray dogs wandering through the ruins.

The Israeli military escorted journalists to the outskirts of Gaza City, marking the first media access since a recent ceasefire was brokered. The destination was Shejaiya, a suburb that has been largely destroyed. The Israeli military described its bombardment as necessary to "clean" the area of Hamas's underground tunnels and booby traps. However, critics argue that the scale of destruction indicates a shift from targeting military infrastructure to indiscriminate attacks that have resulted in civilian casualties.

Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, the IDF's international spokesperson, defended the military's actions, stating, "A war is a difficult thing, it's a hard thing. This war began because of Hamas and wouldn't end because of Hamas." The IDF has faced international condemnation for its operations in Gaza, which have displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

Since the conflict escalated in October 2023, Palestinian health authorities report over 68,000 deaths in Gaza, following Hamas's attacks that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis. Shoshani emphasized that Israel has made efforts to prevent the war and protect civilians, stating, "We have done everything we can to prevent this war before this war, even to our detriment."

The media visit highlighted the area where Israeli forces halted their advance days before the ceasefire. A line of buildings marked the boundary of their operations, while yellow concrete blocks were placed to signify the limits of the Israeli-controlled zone. Confusion had arisen in the Palestinian community regarding the exact location of this boundary, but military officials insisted the placement of the blocks was accurate.

The IDF estimates that a few hundred Hamas fighters remain within the designated area, alongside about 1,000 civilians. Meanwhile, many Palestinians have returned to Gaza City as fighting subsides.

The media visit lasted about an hour, taking place at a base previously visited by senior U.S. officials. Israel maintains control over all access to Gaza, allowing only tightly controlled media embeds. There was no interaction with the local population during the visit, which has drawn criticism from international media seeking unrestricted access to report on the situation.

The fragile ceasefire was further tested by the recent airstrikes, raising concerns about its stability. The U.S. has established a command center nearby to monitor the ceasefire, with Israeli military officials claiming that American presence aids in maintaining order. Discussions are underway regarding the redevelopment of areas cleared of Hamas presence, although the extent of destruction suggests that recovery may take considerable time.

As the situation remains precarious, the path to rebuilding Gaza and restoring normalcy appears challenging amid ongoing tensions and humanitarian concerns.