Israel using planned demolitions to flatten "large swathes" of buildings in Gaza

Israel has used controlled explosions and bulldozers to demolish thousands of civilian buildings across Gaza in recent weeks, a BBC investigation has found.

https://www.dezeen.com/2025/07/21/israel-demolitions-gaza-bbc-investigation/



The broadcaster's open-source intelligence team, BBC Verify, analysed satellite imagery and video footage and found "large swathes" of buildings razed to the ground since Israel withdrew from a ceasefire with Hamas in March.

The journalists, together with researchers from Oregon State University's Conflict Ecology Lab, identified footage of civilian infrastructure being demolished in 40 locations across the blockaded Palestinian territory, some as remote as seven kilometres from the Israeli border.

Virtually every structure left standing" demolished in certain towns

In a matter of weeks, the Israeli forces have levelled "entire towns and suburbs - once home to tens of thousands of people", BBC Verify said. Videos verified by the BBC show footage of buildings being demolished via controlled explosions, excavators and bulldozers, including a significant number that appeared to have remained standing in the wake of Israel's intensive bombing of the Gaza Strip.

Multiple legal experts told BBC Verify that Israel's demolition campaign could amount to a war crime under international humanitarian law. Among the demolished structures is a school in the border city of Rafah, which was found to be among the worst-hit areas, and a cluster of tower blocks levelled by a controlled explosion in Qizan Abu Rashwan.

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related




Architects Climate Action Network "condemns the ongoing genocide in Gaza"

https://www.dezeen.com/2025/06/26/architects-climate-action-network-condemns-genocide-gaza/



Activist group Architects Climate Action Network has released a statement demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, claiming Israel's war in the region amounts to genocide. The statement, which was published earlier this month, called for architects and built environment professionals to demand a ceasefire in Gaza, support Palestinian efforts to rebuild the region and "reject the instrumentalisation of design for political violence and settler-colonial agendas".

"The Architects Climate Action Network International unequivocally condemns the ongoing genocide in Gaza by the Israeli government," said the group. "We are horrified by the relentless systematic targeting of civilians, the widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure, and the deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid," it continued. "These egregious acts represent a grave and escalating crime against humanity."

Group backs South Africa's genocide case against Israel

Architects Climate Action Network said it supports South Africa's ongoing case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which alleges that genocide has been committed by Israel against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. "These processes represent a crucial step towards justice and accountability for those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity," Architects Climate Action Network said of the court case.

A number of organisations now consider Israel's actions genocide, with the UN Special Committee releasing a report in November 2024 stating that Israel's warfare in Gaza "is consistent with the characteristics of genocide". An Amnesty International investigation in December 2024 also found that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. However, Israel has repeatedly denied that its war amounts to genocide.

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