Israeli demolition project in Gaza costliest in history: Haaretz

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
20 Aug 2025 15:02
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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.

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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.

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.

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.