Los Angeles residents sad, desperate over devastating wildfires

The destructive wildfires in southern California have left Los Angeles residents in despair as the flames continue to devastate their homes and businesses.

A break from destructive winds allowed firefighting planes to take off once again as residents of the Palisades in the Los Angeles area were waiting anxiously to get back into their neighborhood to see what's left of their homes.

Ram Miller lost his family home of 25 years.

"Certainly, we weren't prepared for something of this magnitude. And I think that they were so overwhelmed with the fires, so concentrated and so large in that area. With the high wind that we had there was no possible way to fight it," he said.

The Palisades fire is the first and biggest of multiple fires that have been raging around Los Angeles for two days.

Karol Darsa owned a therapy center in the city, which she's now struggling to recognize.

"Oh my God! I cannot… Wow! There's nothing left in here. Wow. Wow. This is the area where I went everyday [for] 12 years. How could that be? Now, it really feels like a movie. So weird!" she exclaimed.

It's a painful walk for Darsa realizing that most of her neighborhood is gone.

Several of her clients and friends have also lost their homes.

As a trauma therapist herself, she says it will take a long time for her community to recover.

"It's one of those things that there is not so much one can do. It's just really a grieving process. You have to allow the grieving. You can't bypass emotions, you have to first feel the grief and the loss, and the sadness. Here we're seeing some people with suitcases," said Darsa.

Nearly 180,000 people have come under evacuation order as windy conditions continue to fuel the most catastrophic fire in the city's history.

Los Angeles residents sad, desperate over devastating wildfires

Los Angeles residents sad, desperate over devastating wildfires

Los Angeles residents sad, desperate over devastating wildfires

Los Angeles residents sad, desperate over devastating wildfires

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is ready to completely withdraw from the governmental scene in the Gaza Strip and engage in a positive and constructive manner with the second phase of the plan to end the war in the enclave, said Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim on Friday. In a statement, Naim said that the ceasefire deal became an international plan after being adopted by the United Nations Security Council. However, it is now facing obstacles.

He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of reneging on his commitments and escalating the situation, in an attempt to return to war and save his political career. Pointing out that Israeli strikes have caused hundreds of casualties since the announcement of the ceasefire, the Hamas official said the escalation cannot occur without cover or green light from the United States. He said Hamas has committed to all its obligations under the ceasefire agreement, as attested by the mediators and the U.S., adding that it is ready for the second phase of the agreement.

He emphasized the Movement's commitment to the establishment of a fully empowered Palestinian body to administer Gaza, and its complete withdrawal from the governmental scene.

Naim warned that the situation will not be sustainable if the continued escalation of Israeli military operations and the persistence of the catastrophic humanitarian situation remain unaddressed, adding that the circle of fire may expand, which is what Netanyahu aspires to.

Since a ceasefire took effect on Oct 10, 2025, Gaza's death toll has risen to 439 with 1,223 injuries, according to local health authorities on Friday. Rescue teams have recovered 688 bodies during that period. In the broader conflict, at least 71,409 Palestinians have been killed and 171,304 wounded since Israel's military campaign in Gaza began in October 2023.

Hamas ready for complete withdrawal from Gaza governmental scene: official