Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City
Al-Qassam: We will postpone the handover of the body of the Israeli captive we found, which was scheduled for today, due to the occupation's violations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation aircraft launch airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
Netanyahu's office: At the end of the security consultations, the prime minister instructed the military to launch massive military strikes on the Gaza Strip immediately
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US Envoy Morgan Ortagus: Southerners must be enabled to return to their homes and rebuild

Gaza flattened for pay, not need: IOF reward operators for each ruin

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli media
  • 13 Jul 2025 23:48
  • 3 Shares
2 Min Read

Hundreds of Israeli bulldozers, excavators, and armored Caterpillar D9 bulldozers continue their relentless work to make Gaza unlivable for years ahead.

  • x
  • Palestinians inspect the rubble of the Al-Aimawi family's home, destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Al-Zawaideh, Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 (AP)
    Palestinians inspect the rubble of the al-Aimawi family's home, destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in al-Zawaideh, Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP)

The official explanation from the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) for demolishing homes in the Gaza Strip is that the heavy machinery work is carried out strictly for operational purposes. They claim buildings are razed only when they pose a threat to soldiers or block military vehicle movement.

However, the payment system for bulldozer and excavator operators working in Gaza suggests otherwise. According to an editorial by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the military offers contractors 2,500 shekels (around $750) to demolish buildings up to three stories tall and 5,000 shekels for taller structures.

This payment scheme incentivizes contractors to demolish as many buildings as possible, as quickly as possible, something difficult to reconcile with claims that these actions are purely based on military necessity.

Moreover, operators are paid daily or monthly, often earning significantly more than they would for similar jobs inside "Israel", with some reportedly making up to 30,000 shekels a month. These high wages are meant to compensate for the dangerous conditions, which deter many from working in Gaza.

Related News

Gaza MoH: Israeli violations of ceasefire leave more martyred

Egyptian convoy enters Gaza to help recover captive remains

In reality, for many bulldozer operators, the work goes beyond pay; it reflects a deeper ideological drive. A significant number are Israeli settlers, while Arabs from the occupied territories in 1948, who make up a large share of "Israel’s" heavy machinery workforce, are notably absent.

Driven by vengeance

Conversations with both civilian contractors and military reservists suggest that many carry out the demolitions with a sense of vengeance, as they steer their machines through the devastated remnants of Gaza’s cities.

So, even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu negotiates a ceasefire with Hamas, hundreds of Israeli bulldozers, excavators, and armored Caterpillar D9s continue their relentless mission to make Gaza uninhabitable for years to come.

This level of destruction appears not as an unfortunate side effect of military operations, but as a deliberate objective.

Such actions are alarming. Under international law, the destruction of civilian property without clear military necessity, the disproportionate use of force, and the targeting of religious, medical, and humanitarian structures are considered war crimes, especially when carried out with the intent to displace populations or prevent their return.

  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Gaza
  • war on Gaza
  • Gaza Strip
  • Gaza genocide

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and Egyptian workers search for the bodies of hostages in a tunnel discovered during searches in Hamad City, Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' obstructing Gaza body recovery, creating false claims: Hamas

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawwaf Salam talks to US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus at the Grand Serail in Beirut, Lebanon, October 28, 2025 (NNA)
Politics

Salam conveys to Ortagus goals behind any possible negotiations

Writers boycott NYT, demand justice as Gaza media ban faces court
Politics

300+ writers boycott NYT Opinion, cite persistent anti-Palestine bias

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, Injure 3 Palestinians
Politics

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, injure 3 Palestinians

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS