Israel’s unprecedented war on Gaza has relied on systematic destruction that has affected all aspects of life, including residential neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, banks, markets, bakeries, and more.
According to the World Bank, approximately 45% of residential buildings in Gaza have been completely destroyed, leaving nearly one million people entirely homeless in the area.
A report by Salam Khodr aired on Al Jazeera revealed that the occupying forces seized control of Beit Hanoun town in northern Gaza in mid-December last year, deliberately demolishing entire neighborhoods through intentional explosions rather than solely relying on aerial bombardment. Satellite images captured areas that were either completely or severely damaged in the town.
Additionally, the Zuhour neighborhood in the southern city of Gaza, known for its high-rise towers and designated for middle-class employees, suffered immense destruction. The World Bank reported that 34,000 homes out of 55,000 were completely destroyed, representing a destruction rate of approximately 60%.
The Israeli newspaper “Haaretz” exposed that soldiers “burned down some buildings in Gaza on direct orders from their leaders,” while the British newspaper “The Guardian” accused the occupying forces of “arming buildings and facilities in Gaza,” treating them as armed entities.
“The Guardian” quoted experts stating that Israel is systematically destroying the cultural heritage sites and daily urban fabric of the Palestinians. Building destruction in Gaza extends beyond depriving residents of their homes; it also impacts students’ right to education and patients’ right to medical care.
The destruction of buildings is one form of killing communities and their collective memory, as per the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing.
