Amnesty International has called for an investigation into the Israeli military’s extensive destruction of Gaza’s eastern perimeter, labeling the actions as potential war crimes. The internationally acclaimed human rights organization, in its latest report, highlighted the widespread devastation carried out between October 2023 and May 2024, focusing on the “buffer zone” expanded along Gaza’s border, reported Eurasia News.
The report, based on satellite imagery and videos provided by Israeli soldiers, revealed that entire neighborhoods, including homes, schools, and mosques, were systematically demolished. In some cases, Israeli soldiers were reportedly seen celebrating the destruction.
Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty’s Senior Director for Research, criticized the Israeli military’s actions as “wanton destruction” and emphasized that the scale of the damage far exceeds any legitimate military necessity, urging a thorough investigation.
The report detailed that the buffer zone expansion along Gaza’s eastern boundary affected approximately 58 square kilometers of land, with over 90 percent of structures in this area destroyed. The damage also extended to significant portions of agricultural land.
Israeli officials have defended the operations as necessary security measures following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas. However, Amnesty International argued that the extent of the destruction was disproportionate and constituted collective punishment, violating international humanitarian law. The report emphasized that much of the destruction occurred after Israeli forces had already gained control of the affected areas, with no ongoing combat, raising serious concerns about the justification for targeting civilian structures.
One of the most affected areas was Khuza’a in southern Gaza, where over 850 structures were destroyed after Israeli ground forces entered the region in late 2023. Satellite imagery confirmed the extensive demolition of homes, orchards, and farmland. Dr. Salem Qudeih, a resident, shared his grief, stating, “Out of the 222 houses of my relatives in the area, only about a dozen remain. My home … was completely destroyed.”
Other regions along Gaza’s border, such as Shujaiya and Maghazi, also suffered severe destruction. Amnesty’s investigation found that over 1,200 structures in central Gaza were damaged or destroyed under the pretext of targeting tunnels and weapons infrastructure. The international rights organization questioned the necessity of such widespread demolition of civilian property.
Amnesty International concluded that the Israeli military’s actions should be thoroughly investigated as potential war crimes, given the evidence of wanton destruction and collective punishment. The organization noted that it had sent inquiries regarding the demolitions to Israeli authorities on July 2, but had not received a response by the time of the report’s publication.
The international community awaits further developments as pressure mounts on Israel to account for its actions in Gaza.
