Israel has demolished thousands of buildings across Gaza since it withdrew from a ceasefire with Hamas in March, with entire towns and suburbs- once home to tens of thousands of people- levelled in the past few weeks.
Satellite images show massive amounts of destruction in several areas which Israel’s military command claims to have under “operational control”. “Planned demolitions have caused large swathes of it, targeting both already damaged buildings and ones that appeared largely intact.”
Verified footage shows large explosion unleashing plumes of dust and debris. As Israeli forces carry out controlled demolition on tower blocks, schools and other infrastructure. Multiple legal experts told BBC. Verify that Israel may have committed war crimes under the Geneva Convention, which largely prohibits the destruction of Infrastructure by an occupying power.
Why is Matters for Israel?
An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said it operated in accordance with international law. “Hamas concealed military assets in civilian areas, and the military destroys property only when an imperative military necessity demands it.”
While Israel states these demolitions target Hamas tunnels or military infrastructure, international observers argue. That they far exceed necessary military objectives and have resulted in widespread displacement and societal destruction—including mass demolition of civilian neighborhoods.
Scholars like Omer Bartov and Neve Gordon characterize the scale and method as genocidal or ethnic‑cleansing in intent—designing Gaza to be largely uninhabitable, with many residents forcibly crammed into just 25% of its territory.
Summary
Credible reports and official investigations confirm that Israel has leveled thousands of civilian buildings. Often via controlled demolitions, effectively reshaping Gaza’s urban landscape. These actions are being scrutinized as crimes under international humanitarian law, raising urgent questions about displacement, proportionality, military rationale, and possible genocidal intent.
