Israel continues to demolish Gaza homes non-stop

An analysis conducted by an American newspaper, based on recent satellite images from "Planet Labs" company, revealed that Israel has demolished more than 2,500 buildings since the signing of the ceasefire agreement, as part of what it claims are operations aimed at destroying tunnels and booby-trapped houses. The newspaper stated - in a report by Samuel Granados, Adam Rasgon, Iyad Abu Hawila, and Sanghana Varghese - that the agreement, signed after a two-year war that caused immense destruction to the Strip, had raised hopes among Palestinians for a period of calm and a chance to breathe after intense shelling that destroyed a large part of the urban infrastructure. However, field realities indicate - the newspaper continues - that demolition operations are ongoing, especially in areas under Israeli control within Gaza. The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced today, Monday, that the death toll of Palestinian martyrs due to the Israeli genocide since October 2023 has risen to 71,419, while the number of injured has reached 171,318 to date.

Continuous demolition Under the agreement, Israeli forces withdrew beyond a dividing line within the Strip, known as the "Yellow Line," leaving Israel in control of about half of Gaza's area. The newspaper added that data showed most demolitions occurred within these areas. However, satellite images also revealed the destruction of dozens of buildings outside this line, in areas supposedly under Hamas control, where the Israeli army had pledged to cease its operations. It explained that the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, represents a stark example of the extent of destruction, as images taken after the agreement showed remnants of buildings still standing, but subsequent images months later showed that the neighborhood had turned into a semi-empty land, with buildings destroyed even at distant locations outside the dividing line. Estimates indicate that some demolition operations extended about 900 feet outside the declared Israeli control areas.

Israeli officials claim - the newspaper continues - that these operations are part of a plan to "disarm Gaza," pointing to the destruction of an extensive tunnel network used by Hamas to store weapons, hide prisoners, and carry out attacks. The newspaper adds that - in contrast - Palestinians and analysts believe that what is happening goes beyond security necessities. They assert that entire neighborhoods are being razed to the ground without regard for the fate of residents or their properties, especially since the majority of residents have already been displaced due to evacuation orders and fighting. UN estimates indicate that more than 80% of Gaza's buildings were damaged or destroyed by October 11. The newspaper reported that many Palestinians expressed a deep sense of loss, as residents displaced from their neighborhoods say that what remains of their collective memory is gradually being erased.

Hostile acts At the same time, Hamas accuses Israel of a clear violation of the agreement's terms, considering the destruction of homes and properties to be hostile acts not justified by the ceasefire, according to the newspaper. It said that the Israeli army defended its actions, asserting that demolition operations are not random, and some are a result of detonating tunnels extending across withdrawal lines. However, the newspaper, for its part, confirmed that these justifications have not dispelled the controversy, amid warnings that continued destruction could undermine the chances of any future stability in the Strip, and further complicate the post-war path.