The Israeli military has destroyed more than 300 homes in Gaza's Zeitoun neighbourhood in the last three days, according to the Civil Defence in Gaza. Officials say this was a direct attack on civilian residential areas, causing large-scale destruction and endangering countless lives.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defence, reported that Israeli forces targeted buildings with five or more floors. The explosives used were so powerful that they caused nearby buildings to collapse, adding to the devastation.
Basal also stated that many demolitions occurred while residents were still inside their homes. Rescue efforts were made impossible as intense bombardment continued, preventing emergency teams from reaching the wounded and trapped.
The Zeitoun neighbourhood, located in central Gaza, has been a repeated target of Israeli attacks throughout the conflict. This latest wave of destruction follows a pattern of heavy assaults aimed at densely populated areas.
Palestinian officials have described these demolitions as part of a wider plan to depopulate Gaza and destroy essential civilian infrastructure. The strategy, they claim, is designed to weaken the community and make it uninhabitable.
Civil Defence teams fear that many victims may still be buried under the rubble. Ongoing shelling and airstrikes are making it extremely difficult to access affected sites, raising the risk of further loss of life as time runs out for survivors.
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