Israeli forces have destroyed more than 2,500 buildings in the Gaza Strip in the months since a ceasefire was announced with Hamas, The New York Times reported, citing an analysis of satellite imagery from the US company Planet Labs.
The newspaper said Israel, under the terms of the agreement, pulled its troops back behind a designated boundary inside Gaza but retained control of roughly half of the enclave. It added that most of the destroyed buildings and infrastructure — including tunnels — were in areas under Israeli control, while dozens of structures were also demolished beyond the demarcation line in zones controlled by Hamas.
The report noted that satellite images of one area previously showed clusters of intact buildings, but now the district “looks like a wasteland.” It added that in Israel-controlled parts of eastern Gaza, entire neighborhoods, as well as farmland and greenhouses, have been destroyed.
“Israel is wiping entire neighborhoods off the map. Israeli forces destroy everything in their path — homes, schools, factories, and streets. Security considerations cannot justify these actions,” Gaza-based political analyst Mohammed al-Astal told the newspaper.
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Based on materials from TASS