Israel levelling thousands of Gaza civilian buildings in controlled demolitions

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”.

Large swathes of it have been caused by planned demolitions, both to already damaged buildings and ones that appeared largely intact.

Verified footage shows large explosions unleashing plumes of dust and debris, as Israeli forces carry out controlled demolitions 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.

An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said it operated in accordance with international law; that Hamas concealed “military assets” in civilian areas, and that the “destruction of property is only performed when an imperative military necessity is demanded”.
The scale of destruction can be clearly seen in the city of Rafah, near the border with Egypt.
In recent weeks, Israeli forces and contractors have levelled large swathes of Rafah.
An analysis of damage by academics Corey Scher and Jamon Van Den Hoek found the destruction in Gaza since April has been most concentrated in the region.
Controlled explosions, excavators and bulldozers have obliterated whole areas.
In July, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz outlined plans to establish what he called a “humanitarian city” over the ruins of Rafah, with an initial 600,000 Palestinians being confined there.

The plan has been widely condemned. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the BBC that the proposal would be “interpreted as being akin to a concentration camp”.
Israel claims its military has “operational control” over large areas of the Gaza Strip which are now militarised zones or have been under evacuation orders.

Source:BBC