Israel is unleashing “hell” on Gaza: thousands of homes destroyed and 350,000 citizens displaced

The Government Media Office in Gaza has accused the Israel occupation army of committing “crimes of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and forced displacement” against the residents of Gaza City through a systematic campaign of destruction of residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure since the start of the ground offensive on August 11, 2025, until today.

Widespread destruction of residential infrastructure

In an official statement, the office explained that Israel has completely destroyed more than 1,600 multi-story residential towers and buildings, in addition to 2,000 other buildings that have been severely damaged. It has also targeted 13,000 tents that were sheltering thousands of displaced people.

Since the beginning of September alone, the occupation has completely destroyed 70 residential towers and buildings, severely damaged 120 others, and burned and destroyed more than 3,500 tents for displaced persons.

According to the statement, these buildings contained more than 10,000 housing units inhabited by about 50,000 people, while the targeted tents housed more than 52,000 displaced persons, meaning that the occupation destroyed homes and tents that housed more than 100,000 people and led to the displacement of more than 350,000 citizens to the center and west of the city.

Israel’s systematic targeting of civilians in Gaza

The media office emphasized that what is happening is not targeting of the resistance, as Israel claims, but rather systematic opening of fire on unarmed civilians, including children, women, and the older people.

It added:

The occupation army did not open the gates of hell on the resistance, as its Minister of War Yoav Katz said, but rather on unarmed civilians, destroying homes, hospitals, schools, mosques, and tents, in a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.

The statement noted that the targeting included most of the main neighborhoods in Gaza City, including: Shuja’iyya, Al-Zaytoun, Al-Tuffah, Al-Daraj, Al-Rimal North and South, Tel Al-Hawa, Sheikh Radwan, Al-Sabra, Al-Nasr, Sheikh Ajlin, and Al-Shati camp. It explained that these neighborhoods were systematically divided and destroyed, turning them into areas that repelled residents as part of a policy of “ethnic cleansing.”

Documented war crimes and an urgent call

The media office affirmed that Israel’s acts constitute full-fledged war crimes, calling on the international community and its human rights and humanitarian institutions to intervene urgently to stop the aggression and provide protection for civilians. It added that the continued silence of the international community encourages the occupation to continue its policy of genocide and forced displacement.

The office concluded its statement by emphasizing that the Israeli occupation is deliberately committing “crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing” in Gaza City, stressing that the international community is required to take immediate action, not only through condemnation, but also through practical steps to stop the aggression and hold the leaders of the occupation accountable before the competent international courts.

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali

This post was originally published on Canary.