DaysofPal – The Israeli military has continued to demolish buildings in parts of Gaza it has occupied since a ceasefire with Hamas came into effect on October 10, actions that appear to violate the terms of the truce.
Throughout the war, legal experts and United Nations officials have warned that the large-scale destruction of civilian infrastructure may constitute a war crime.
Since the ceasefire began, Israel has maintained control over approximately 58 percent of Gaza, withdrawing its forces behind what it calls the “yellow line,” which separates Gaza’s coastal areas from its border regions. Despite the cessation of hostilities, satellite imagery shows that demolitions have continued well after the agreement took hold.
According to satellite images reviewed during the period between November 5 and December 13, the most extensive destruction occurred in the Shujayea and Tuffah neighborhoods of Gaza City. Additional demolitions were detected in the southern city of Rafah, as well as the apparent destruction of agricultural facilities east of Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.
Legal scholars argue that such actions are difficult to justify under international humanitarian law. Adil Haque, a professor of law and armed conflict at Rutgers Law School, noted that the Fourth Geneva Convention strictly limits the destruction of private property by an occupying power.
“Any destruction by an occupying power of private property is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations,” Haque explained.
He stressed that this exception is “extremely narrow,” adding that destruction must be necessary, not merely advantageous, and must stem directly from active combat or preparations for combat.
“With a general ceasefire in place, and only a few sporadic exchanges of fire, it is not plausible that such significant destruction of civilian property has been rendered necessary by military operations,” Haque said.
Ongoing Violations and Military Expansion
Further indications of ceasefire violations have emerged. Al Jazeera’s Sanad fact-checking agency reported that Israel appears to have established a new advanced military outpost in the Tal al-Za’atar area of northern Gaza.
Satellite imagery shows new tents and equipment added to the site between November 5 and December 13. Prior to this development, Sanad recorded 39 active Israeli military points inside the Gaza Strip.
The broader impact of Israeli military operations over the course of the war has been devastating. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported last month that 282,000 housing units across Gaza have been destroyed, leaving about 1.5 million Palestinians displaced.
The damage extends to essential services, with approximately 93 percent of schools destroyed or damaged and 63 percent of hospitals remaining out of service as of December 9.
In September, an independent commission appointed by the UN Human Rights Council cited repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure, particularly medical facilities, in concluding that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.
Despite the ceasefire, violence has not fully ceased. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that 391 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the truce went into effect.
Overall, at least 70,663 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of at least 1,139 people.
Political tensions surrounding the “yellow line” have also intensified. Last week, Hamas political bureau member Hossam Badran condemned remarks attributed to Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir, who reportedly described the line as Gaza’s “new borderline.” Badran said Hamas views the continued demolitions in the area as an extension of Israeli military operations, despite the declared ceasefire.
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