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
Hegseth in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart: Washington will continue to defend its interests vigorously
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: The United States is concerned about China's activities in the South China Sea
Occupied Palestine: Israeli occupation forces demolishe residential homes east of Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone attacked the main road in the town of Harouf, South Lebanon.
Lebanese President: Israeli aggression on Blida took place in aftermath of meeting of ceasefire monitoring committee.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asks Commander of Lebanese Army to confront any Israeli incursion into liberated Lebanese territory in the South.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli aircraft launch series of strikes on area of Jarmaq, South Lebanon.
Reuters: Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to restart peace talks in Istanbul.
Al-Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Blida municipality building two hours after occupying it, and the Lebanese army enters
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border

Israeli demolition project in Gaza costliest in history: Haaretz

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli media
  • 20 Aug 2025 15:02
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

The Israeli aggression on Gaza has become one of the costliest campaigns in "Israel’s" history, generating billions in profits for contractors for the destruction of thousands of homes in the Gaza Strip.

Listen
  • x
  • Bureij, central Gaza Strip, on January 23, 2025. (Photo by Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images)
    A man is seen walking among destroyed building in Bureij, central Gaza Strip, on January 23, 2025. (Photo by Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images)

The ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza has turned into one of the most expensive engineering projects in "Israel's" history, Haaretz reports, with the Israeli occupation forces systematically demolishing entire neighborhoods across the Gaza Strip.

Bulldozers, excavators, and heavy Caterpillar D9 tractors are operating day and night, leveling thousands of Palestinian homes and infrastructure, leaving behind unprecedented destruction.

According to reports, the Security Ministry is spending millions of shekels daily on demolition operations. Companies contracted for the task are reaping massive profits while Gaza is being reduced to rubble.

In just one week, hundreds of homes were demolished. With the cabinet approving military control of Gaza City, occupation forces are expected to continue at this pace for months. Commanders on the ground justify the demolitions by claiming that standing buildings pose threats, concealing tunnels, snipers, or explosives.

This policy leaves entire neighborhoods flattened, forcing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into tents as shelters. The scale of devastation is without precedent in "Israel’s" history of warfare.

Read more: Gaza war 'could have ended long ago', ex-IOF admit, urging ceasefire

Engineering firms profiting from war on Gaza

A small group of powerful infrastructure companies provides most of the heavy machinery for the demolitions, according to Haaretz. Firms like the Talor Karadi Group, Asia Construction, and Farm Earthworks rent out equipment to the Security Ministry at inflated rates.

Related News

Al-Qassam hand over bodies of two Israeli captives

UK finally allows Palestinian students to bring families from Gaza

While daily rental of heavy machinery inside "Israel" costs about 3,500 shekels ($1,035), the price in Gaza rises to 5,000 shekels ($1,479). Operators are also paid nearly double for the same work, with demand so high that importers report no heavy machinery left in stock.

Operating hundreds of machines requires enormous fuel supplies. The Security Ministry covers nearly 100 million shekels ($29.5 million) a month just for diesel and equipment use in Gaza. Construction materials like concrete are also being used in huge volumes, especially to seal tunnels.

According to Haaretz, infrastructure firms admit that while they are profiting, their projects are focused almost entirely on demolishing Palestinian homes, despite acknowledging, “We would rather build than destroy.”

The demolitions have generated colossal amounts of debris. The United Nations estimates more than 50 million tons, which could take up to 12 years and billions of shekels to clear. Scrap metal, concrete, and rubble left across the Gaza Strip may one day be recycled for rebuilding, but until then, the ruins remain a stark reminder of the devastation.

A contractor noted to Haaretz, “Do you know how much scrap metal there is in the Gaza Strip? If someone wanted to collect it one day and sell it, these are quantities that are worth a fortune.”

Expanding ground operations

The war on Gaza has also fueled Palestinian resilience, with the Palestinian resistance continuing to fight despite the massive destruction. Occupation commanders argue that every demolition is necessary for troop safety, while the IOF claims the destruction is tied to “operational needs.”

Humanitarian groups stress that the demolitions amount to collective punishment, displacing hundreds of thousands and deepening the catastrophe in Gaza.

The Israeli Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir approved plans to occupy Gaza City split across two phases. The first phase includes the expulsion of Palestinians who remain, blockading of the city, and the setting up of "humanitarian zones," while the second phase entails a gradual and steady military entry into the urban areas. 

On August 20, Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz put his support behind the expansionist motion, dubbed Gideon’s Chariots B, which aims to be a continuation of the initial Gideon's Chariots plan which previously saw the IOF’s occupation of about 75% of Gaza, and the destruction of both underground and above-ground infrastructure in cleared areas.

Read more: Israeli military faces shortage of at least 10,000 soldiers

  • Gaza
  • Gaza Strip
  • Israel
  • Israeli aggression on Gaza
  • Israeli occupation forces
  • war on Gaza
  • Palestinian resistance
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

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
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025
Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with Al-Manar TV, October 26, 2025 (Screenshot)

Hezbollah ready to face 'Israel' in case of war: Sheikh Naim Qassem

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
ap
Politics

Hamas calls on int’l community to act against Israeli settlement plan

In this Nov. 9, 2017, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, chats with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP)
Economy

Ex-US diplomat says Trump-Xi deal 'tactical retreat', not lasting deal

An unarmed Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, during a test in 2002. (US Air Force)
Politics

JD Vance defends Trump's nuclear test plan as 'crucial for security'

Ultra-Orthodox Jews attend the "million man" protest against military conscription, in occupied al-Quds, October 30, 2025 (AFP)
Politics

Haredi mass rally in al-Quds exposes Zionist regime's growing crisis

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