DaysofPal- Recent satellite imagery analysis conducted by Al Jazeera’s fact-checking agency, Sanad, has revealed that Israel has demolished dozens of homes in Rafah, southern Gaza, despite an ongoing ceasefire with Hamas.
The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, a crucial humanitarian lifeline, has remained closed since May 2024, following Israel’s takeover of the area. This move, which violates the 1979 peace treaty with Egypt, has allowed Israel to establish a stronger military presence in the Philadelphia Corridor, a strategic 14-kilometer (8.7-mile) stretch along the Gaza-Egypt border.
Satellite images taken between January 19 and 21 indicate that Israeli forces have constructed sand fortifications around the Rafah crossing and established a military outpost just north of the site. The army has also constructed a road that runs parallel to the fortifications for 1.7 kilometers (1.1 miles).
Residents of Rafah have faced severe restrictions, with thousands prevented from returning to their homes. According to reports, Israeli military vehicles have fired on civilians attempting to return, causing casualties. Palestinian defense analyst Hamze Attar suggests that Israel’s actions are aimed at creating a “buffer zone” to distance potential threats.
As part of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on January 19, Israel was expected to gradually reduce its military presence in the area before a full withdrawal by the 50th day. However, satellite analysis from January 19 to February 1 indicates that Israeli forces have continued demolitions, with 64 buildings razed in Rafah’s as-Salam, Idari, and Tel Zaarab neighborhoods, just 700 meters (766 yards) from the Egyptian border.
“This constitutes a war crime,” Attar stated, citing the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the destruction of private property.
Munir al-Bursh, the director-general of Gaza’s Ministry of Health, said on Tuesday that Israeli attacks, unexploded ordnance, or fatal injuries received earlier have killed 118 people since the ceasefire started. Apart from military transgressions, Israel has also imposed restrictions on the flow of vital humanitarian supplies, such as food, fuel, tents, and emergency shelters.
Rafah Mayor Ahmed al-Sufi noted that most of the city’s residents remain displaced, with approximately 200,000 people seeking refuge in al-Mawasi Khan Younis and other areas across Gaza. According to initial assessments, around 90 percent of homes in Rafah have sustained damage, with roughly 52,000 housing units affected to varying degrees.
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