November 12, 2025, 6:08 p.mNovember 12, 2025, 6:43 p.m
Since the ceasefire, Israel has destroyed over 1,500 buildings in Gaza. The reports the BBC and relies on satellite images from the Planet Labs PBC service (Watson does not own the rights to show the images). The before-and-after photos show that entire neighborhoods controlled by the Israeli forces were razed to the ground. The last photos reviewed by the BBC are from November 8th. The ceasefire came into force on October 10th.
The Sheikh Radwan quarters in Gaza City after the Israeli offensive.Image: keystone
The BBC emphasizes that it is difficult to make a final judgment based on the bird’s eye view. What is striking, however, is that in many of the buildings that were demolished last month, no damage was previously visible. In many cases, even after the ceasefire, there were no visible debris or other signs of fighting.
Comparisons with current photos and those taken before the outbreak of war showed that many of the disappeared buildings had no or only minimal visible external changes. Many of the buildings that were leveled were “residential buildings with gardens and fruit trees.”
Map: watson.ch
The worst affected areas are in the east of the former city of Khan Younis and around Abasan al-Kabira. But there are also reports from Gaza City and Al Bayuk, southeast of Rafah.
Al Bayuk before and after the war
Blue: The buildings destroyed during the war.
Red: The houses leveled after the armistice.Image: watson.ch/screenshot google maps
This is not the first time that Israel has deliberately demolished houses in Gaza. The usual procedure for this is controlled explosions. Heavy equipment is then used to level the area. Traces of vehicles suggest that Israel is also doing this now. The BBC points out that only selected areas were released for analysis and the number of houses destroyed is probably higher.
Outskirts of Abasan al-Kabira before and after the war
Blue: The buildings destroyed during the war. Red: The houses leveled after the armistice.Image: watson.ch/screenshot google maps
For various observers, Israel’s actions violate the signed 20-point plan, which has been in force since October 10th. An Israeli army spokesman points out that the areas are behind the so-called “Yellow Line”: “According to the agreement, all terrorist infrastructure, including tunnels, will be demolished in the entire Gaza area,” he wrote to the BBC.
The “Yellow Line” through Gaza, behind which the Israeli army must retreat
Map: watson.ch
The exact provisions of the 20-point plan are not known. However, the White House published a summary of the individual points. It points out that the destruction of terrorist infrastructure must be carried out under “monitoring by independent inspectors”. This does not appear to be the case.
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Video: watson/Emanuella Kälin, Lucas Zollinger