The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim 'Not a Palestinian in sight': Inside Gaza after the ceasefire
Feb 25, 2026
A firsthand account from inside Gaza showing widespread destruction and the sharp divide between rebuilt border areas and ruined neighborhoods. Discussion of continued Israeli military presence, shown tunnels, and why withdrawal remains contested. A look at risks of wider conflict with Iran and reflections on four years of war in Ukraine and shifting leadership decisions.
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Embedded Entry Into Gaza With No Civilians In Sight
- Richard Engel entered Gaza embedded with the Israeli military and saw no Palestinians in the areas they took him to.
- He described only rubble, bulldozers fortifying Israeli positions, and a sense of passing through a wormhole from lush Israel into flattened Gaza.
The Yellow Line Has Confined Gaza's Population
- Gaza is effectively divided by a 'yellow line' leaving about two million Palestinians confined to roughly half the territory.
- That half where Palestinians live is devastated with huge infrastructure damage and no visible intact buildings.
Inside A Recently Found Hamas Tunnel
- The Israeli military guided Richard Engel into a recently discovered Hamas tunnel that remained intact beneath the wreckage above.
- The tunnel had concrete ceilings, electricity, side rooms with mattresses and a bathroom, and even women's underwear drying on a line.