Gaza's Urban Battle: The Impact of Israel's Explosive Tactics

In the weeks leading up to the October ceasefire, Israel introduced a new weapon to the battlefield in Gaza: M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers loaded with massive amounts of explosives. These vehicles, usually used for transporting troops, were repurposed to carry between 1 and 3 tons of explosives, causing widespread destruction in Gaza City. The use of these explosive-laden APCs, along with airstrikes and bulldozers, resulted in the leveling of numerous buildings. While many residents fled ahead of the demolitions following Israeli warnings, some, like Hesham Mohammad Badawi, found their homes completely destroyed without any prior notice. Badawi's five-storey home in the Tel-al-Hawa suburb was obliterated by an APC explosion on September 14. He and 41 family members were left homeless, with no evacuation warning given before the blast. The explosion was so powerful that it scattered vehicle fragments hundreds of meters away and could potentially collapse multi-storey buildings.The use of APCs as bombs is highly unusual and risks excessive damage to civilian dwellings, according to military experts. Israel's military claims that the demolitions were necessary for operational purposes, but critics argue that the use of such large explosives in dense residential areas may violate principles of humanitarian law. The destruction in Gaza City is extensive, with about 650 buildings in the Tel-al-Hawa and Sabra districts destroyed in just six weeks. The level of ruin reflects a broader trend, with 81% of Gaza's buildings suffering damage or destruction during the war. The use of APCs as bombs is not the only controversial tactic employed by Israel in Gaza. The military has also been criticized for the demolition of civilian infrastructure, including towers, universities, and mosques. While Israel claims that these buildings were used for military purposes, critics argue that the evidence provided is insufficient. The impact of these tactics on the civilian population is severe. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced, and the destruction of homes and infrastructure has left many struggling to survive. The use of such powerful weapons in densely populated areas raises serious questions about the proportionality and necessity of the attacks.