The bodies of numerous Palestinians have been recovered from the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood following the retreat of Israeli forces from parts of Gaza City, according to Palestinian rescue workers. Gaza's civil defense spokesperson, Mahmoud Basal, stated that the majority of the deceased are families, including women and children, with some bodies unfortunately preyed upon by dogs. "At least 60 bodies were found, with some being interred on-site while others were transported to nearby hospitals." Israeli forces penetrated the area earlier in the week after instructing civilians to evacuate on Monday. Basal remarked that many bodies remain trapped under debris, with rescue operations frequently disrupted due to the proximity of Israeli forces. The discovery comes after the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza City's Shujayea neighborhood. Basal revealed that civil defense teams also retrieved numerous bodies from there, stressing that the area has become uninhabitable. Documented accounts suggest that Israeli forces opened fire on residents in the neighborhood, despite their presence on designated evacuation routes. Gaza City, formerly home to over a quarter of Gaza's population, was severely devastated in late 2023, yet hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had resettled in the ruins before being once again urged to vacate by Israel. Hamas, the governing body in Gaza, accused Israeli forces of committing atrocities and demanded international accountability. The group labeled Israel's actions as heinous abuses and called for immediate intervention from the UN and global community to halt what they describe as a "war of extermination" against Palestinians. ‘Stalling’ ceasefire talks Amid heightened attacks by Israeli forces in Gaza's north, they continue to target areas in the besieged enclave's south. An Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis resulted in the deaths of at least four aid workers from the UK-based humanitarian organization Al-Khair Foundation. The aid workers were targeted while preparing to distribute aid in Khan Younis. Al-Khair Foundation has been active in Gaza, providing essential support to the population, a mission now imperiled by the loss of four dedicated individuals. This recent incident echoes a prior tragedy when seven individuals affiliated with the United States-based NGO World Central Kitchen were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, prompting Israel to acknowledge the attack as a regrettable error and pledging to safeguard aid workers. Mediators are actively pursuing a ceasefire agreement for the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Despite recent progress in negotiations, Hamas accuses Israel of stalling and squandering time by not unequivocally responding to their proposal.