Gaza: Gaza City is witnessing an unprecedented wave of demolitions as Israeli forces target high-rise residential buildings, sparking fears among Palestinians of permanent displacement. The destruction of the 15-storey Mushtaha Tower on September 5 marked the onset of an intensified demolition campaign ahead of a broader ground assault in the densely populated city. Hundreds of residents, including families displaced multiple times, are now homeless, with entire neighborhoods such as Zeitoun, Tuffah, Shejaia, and Sheikh al-Radwan bearing the brunt of these attacks. Satellite imagery confirms the extensive scale of destruction across Gaza City.
Shady Salama Al-Rayyes, a bank worker who had been paying a $93,000 mortgage on his flat, described the sudden devastation: “I never thought I would leave Gaza City, but the explosions are non-stop. I can't risk the safety of my children, so I am packing up and will leave for the south.” Al-Rayyes’ fears mirror the concerns expressed by the U.N. Human Rights Office (OHCHR), which warned that such deliberate efforts to relocate the population could amount to ethnic cleansing.
Israeli officials maintain that the demolitions are aimed at neutralizing Hamas infrastructure. Military spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nadav Shoshani stated, “There’s no strategy to flatten Gaza. Our aim is to destroy Hamas and bring hostages home.” However, conflicting statements from political leaders, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s remark that most of Gaza could be “totally destroyed,” have heightened anxieties about long-term displacement.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen. Over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since the escalation began, with widespread famine and multiple displacements affecting most of the population. U.N. experts have also flagged the destruction of civilian housing and infrastructure as potentially constituting war crimes, underscoring the gravity of the unfolding crisis.
While Israel insists that targeted buildings were used by Hamas to attack forces, residents, observers, and international agencies alike fear that the demolitions may have a more permanent impact on the city’s civilian population. The latest phase of the conflict highlights the growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and raises urgent questions about the protection of civilians amid military operations.