RAFAH, Gaza Strip — The recent ceasefire has brought a temporary pause after over 15 months of continuous conflict between Israel and Hamas, however, the situation in Gaza remains dire. The devastation is felt across the small coastal territory, which houses closely packed refugee camps interspersed with cities. Drone footage illustrates the extensive wreckage left behind by what has been described as the longest and deadliest conflict in the history of both parties.
Hussein Barakat, a 38-year-old resident of the southern city of Rafah, surveyed the ruins of what was once his three-story home, now nothing more than piles of debris. “It has become a ghost town. There is nothing,” he lamented while seated on an old armchair amidst the rubble, a stark reminder of the surreal circumstance borne from the destruction.
Critics of Israel argue that the military’s conduct exhibits a scorched earth strategy, aimed at dismantling essential life in Gaza. Allegations of genocide are currently under examination within various global courts. While Israel refutes these claims, asserting that its military operations are focused on combating threats within densely populated civilian areas and striving to minimize harm to non-combatants and the infrastructure, the complexity of the reality is acknowledged by military analysts.
Matthew Savill, a director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute in the UK, pointed out the inherent difficulties in categorizing such a prolonged military campaign. The assessment of damages requires nuanced scrutiny of operations to determine compliance with armed conflict laws, though Savill expressed skepticism towards the scorched earth narrative.
Organizations focused on human rights, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have criticized the destruction, framing it within a larger narrative of extermination and genocide aimed at Palestinians in Gaza. Human Rights Watch specifically commented on the enormity of the destruction, indicating it suggests a deliberate intent to displace the population permanently.
In response to the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023, Israel launched an intensive air campaign followed by ground operations involving thousands of troops in tanks, leading to significant damage to civilian infrastructure and resulting in the displacement of approximately 90% of Gaza’s residents. The vibrant life of pre-conflict Gaza has been overshadowed by a pervasive grayness, projecting a grim future for recovery that could extend over multiple decades.
Recent evaluations utilizing satellite images indicated that over 60,000 buildings were destroyed while more than 20,000 suffered severe damage due to the conflict, generating an estimated 50 million tons of debris from structures and roadways, although these figures await ground validation. Airstrikes primarily targeted buildings believed to harbor militants, but the level of destruction reached new heights as ground troops engaged in warfare amid community neighborhoods.
When militants fired from residential buildings during troop maneuvers, the Israeli military responded by demolishing entire structures to negate threats. This type of military engagement led to significant degradation of roads and public works. The engineering units of the military were then employed to clear paths, demolish perceived threats, and collapse Hamas’ underground tunnel networks.
Experts have highlighted the severe impact such tunnel destruction has on surface facilities. For instance, when Israeli forces detonate a tunnel stretching 1.5 kilometers (about a mile), the collateral damage frequently extends to the properties above. “If (the tunnel) passes under an urban area, it all gets destroyed,” remarked Michael Milshtein, a former Israeli army intelligence officer. Essential infrastructure such as cemeteries, schools, and hospitals faced devastation due to their alleged use by Hamas, compounded by subsequent detonation risks.
The Israeli military’s pattern of frequently retracing operations into areas previously said to be secure has further intensified the destruction, particularly seen in northern Gaza. A new offensive in early October obliterated Jabaliya, a densely populated refugee camp housing families displaced since the establishment of Israel in 1948. Milshtein attributed the high levels of destruction to the campaign targeting Hamas’ tunnel networks.
Moreover, the establishment of buffer zones—approximately one kilometer deep into Gaza’s territory from the border—served a strategic military purpose, as sections of land were cleared to secure operational areas, according to retired General Amir Avivi. He rebuffed claims of indiscriminate civilian area devastation.
The extent of destruction and the considerable civilian casualties have prompted numerous accusations against Israel of committing war crimes, which it denies. Each operational decision regarding targeted structures has become a focal point in examining the legality of military actions.
Savill noted that any military response to armed threats involves an evaluation of necessity, underscoring that even if a building is used by militants, it must be justifiable to strike. “The moment militants occupy a building and attack, a decision is made on whether to engage,” he explained.
In Jabaliya, resident Nizar Hussein has adapted to the destruction of his family home by using a sheet to cover its remains, mindful of the precarious concrete slab looming above. “At least, we require years to rebuild,” he expressed, struggling to articulate the weight of their loss. “Thank God for everything.”
