"We’ve Become Addicted to Explosions”: The Israeli Military Unit Responsible for Demolishing Homes Across Gaza

Cross posted from: feddit.de/post/11568004

Twenty days after more than 1,100 people were killed in a Hamas attack on October 7, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched its ground offensive in Gaza with the stated aim of destroying Hamas and bringing hostages home. As of April 12, more than 33,000 people have been killed in Gaza according to UN OCHA reports. In response to the IDF offensive the International Court of Justice issued interim measures to prevent genocide.

Systematic and widespread attacks on civilian housing and infrastructure in Gaza has been described as “domicide” by Professor Balakrishnan Rajagopal, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing. He told us “Even with attacks against individual buildings, every building which is bombed or destroyed has got to be evaluated legally. Whether a building on this or that corner of a road needed to be destroyed or not…the burden is on the IDF to show that they have evidence, that they have proof and that the attack is proportionate and necessary”.

It’s estimated that more than 50% of Gaza’s buildings have been destroyed or damaged and approximately 1.7 million people have been displaced since the offensive began.