Independent human rights experts highlighted the devastating impact of the alleged use of artificial intelligence by the Israeli military on targets in Gaza, emphasizing the unprecedented destruction of civilian infrastructure and housing. According to the experts, the current military offensive has resulted in a higher percentage of destruction in Gaza compared to any previous conflict.
They estimated that a significant number of homes in Gaza, particularly in northern Gaza, have been either fully destroyed or partially damaged. The experts condemned the systematic and widespread destruction as a crime against humanity, pointing to numerous war crimes and acts of genocide. They also raised concerns about Israeli officials’ calls for Palestinians to leave Gaza and the potential exploitation of the situation for personal gain, indicating that Israel’s intentions extend beyond military objectives.
Damage to the Strip is estimated at $18.5 billion – 97 per cent of the total economy of Gaza and West Bank. More than 70 per cent of this estimate is to replace housing, while another 19 per cent is the cost of civilian infrastructure, including water and sanitation, power and roads.
“Homes are gone, and with that, the memories, hopes and aspirations of Palestinians and their ability to realise other rights, including their rights to land, food, water, sanitation, health, security and privacy (especially of women and girls), education, development, a healthy environment and self-determination,” said the rights experts.
Return to the north
Inside Gaza at the weekend, thousands of people reportedly tried to head back to their homes in the north of the enclave.
Images from Gaza showed people of all ages thronging along the coastal road to the north, the majority on foot, others on donkey carts.
According to news reports, Israeli tanks blocked the road, forcing Palestinians to turn around.
Other reports indicated that Israeli bombardment continued on Monday across the enclave, with Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza also hit, leaving five dead and dozens wounded.
Latest data from Gaza’s health authorities indicate that more than 33,200 people have been killed in the enclave since 7 October, the majority women and children. The Hamas-led attacks in Israel claimed more than 1,250 lives with over 250 taken hostage.
Bakery lifeline
In a related development, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Sunday that it had helped restart bread production Gaza City, after providing fuel and repairs to a bakery’s bread-making machines.
Before constant Israeli bombardment began in response to Hamas-led terror attacks on 7 October in Israel, the Gaza Strip had around 140 industrial bakeries.
In a tweet on X, WFP said that it had delivered fuel to one bakery that had been closed for months, contributing to the desperate humanitarian situation in the north of the enclave, where Gazans have been “largely cut off” from aid.
“WFP will continue to provide wheat four and other resources so that bread can be available – but this quantity will only last four days,” the UN agency said, in a renewed appeal for “safe, sustained and scaled-up access to prevent famine”.
Rafah uncertainty
And amid continuing uncertainty about whether Israeli forces might attack Rafah, UN refugee agency (UNHCR) chief Filippo Grandi warned against creating a new displacement crisis from the enclave’s southern-most city into neighbouring Egypt.
“Another refugee crisis from Gaza into Egypt – I can assure you having been the head of UNRWA myself – I speak from knowledge – would make the resolution of that Palestinian refugee question and as a consequence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict impossible,” Mr. Grandi said, referring to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
“So we must fervently do everything for this not to happen. And this is why we have constantly said the priority is to have access inside Gaza, because that is the only way that we can prevent this from happening.”