Khuza’a Demolition: Gaza Genocide Evidence

Amnesty International’s analysis of satellite imagery and verification of
video footage⁢ reveals how Israeli⁤ forces ⁤entirely razed what remained of
the town of Khuza’a in the southern occupied Gaza Strip ⁢over two weeks in
May 2025.

⁤ The analysis underscores the urgent need to investigate⁢ the Israeli
military for the war crimes of ⁤wanton destruction and collective
⁤ punishment. It ⁤also provides fresh evidence⁢ of Israel’s genocide ⁢against
⁤ Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip.

⁢ The findings ⁤of this research indicate ⁢a pattern of intentional destruction
of⁤ life-sustaining infrastructure, including some of Gaza’s most fertile
⁣ agricultural⁢ land, undertaken by Israel as part ‍of a calculated plan to
impose on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life designed to bring⁤ about
⁣ their physical destruction, in whole or in part. Amnesty
⁢ International’s previous research uncovered a pattern of Israeli
destruction of civilian areas between December 2023 and May 2024 without
imperative military necessity during ⁤efforts to expand a “buffer zone”
⁢ along the eastern perimeter of Gaza.

The ⁤latest images from May 2025 illustrate how Khuza’a, a ‍town⁣ in ⁢the
⁣ Khan⁣ Younis governorate, once home to approximately 11,000 Palestinians,
‍ has⁤ been entirely ⁣reduced to ⁣rubble in less than two weeks after a
significant part of the town had already been destroyed in 2024. This
evidence strongly suggests⁣ Israel is continuing its ‍pattern of destroying
civilian areas in⁢ the absence⁣ of imperative military necessity, given that
⁣ the methodical destruction went significantly beyond tactical engagements.
⁤ ‍ ⁢ While some destruction ‍may be attributed to ⁢shelling, air strikes or
fighting ⁤during combat, much of the destruction appears to have been
⁢ deliberately⁢ and methodically carried out outside‍ active combat.

‍ The annihilation ⁤of Khuza’a is a chilling⁣ testament to Israel’s
ongoing ⁢campaign of systematic destruction in Gaza, transforming entire
towns into desolate landscapes ‍of dust and rubble.
⁤

⁢ Erika Guevara Rosas,Senior director for Research,Advocacy Policy and
‍Campaigns at Amnesty International.
⁢ ⁢

Erika Guevara Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy Policy and
Campaigns ⁤at Amnesty international, said the annihilation of Khuza’a is a
⁢ chilling testament to Israel’s ongoing campaign of systematic destruction
⁤ in Gaza, transforming entire towns into desolate landscapes of dust and
⁤ rubble.

She added that the scale of this destruction far exceeds ⁣any conceivable
military necessity and points to a⁢ deliberate campaign by Israeli forces
to render the area uninhabitable.
‍

The destruction of some of Gaza’s most fertile⁢ agricultural land,
including land ‍essential to the ⁤production of food, must be seen in the
context ⁢of Israel’s use of starvation as a method⁤ of warfare. For 77 days
beginning on ⁤March 2, 2025,⁢ Israeli authorities completely blocked the
entry of food and other supplies essential to the survival of the civilian
‍ population. While it has ‍recently allowed⁢ a trickle of⁣ aid in,⁣ the
militarization of aid‍ distribution has made access to food both extremely
⁤ deadly and dehumanizing. coupled with mass displacement and systematic
⁤ destruction or denial of access to sources of food production, israel ⁣has
engineered an unprecedented humanitarian⁣ catastrophe, which ‍is part⁢ and
⁣ ⁢⁤ parcel of ⁤the genocidal conditions‍ of life it has imposed ⁤in gaza.

A town erased: May 2025 timeline of destruction

The extent of destruction in Khuza’a unfolded rapidly⁣ throughout May
2025. between May 14 and 15, Palestinian media reported Israeli air
‍ strikes⁣ and artillery ⁣shelling in the area, likely in preparation for the
deployment of ground⁤ troops. By May ⁣17, satellite imagery analyzed by
‍ amnesty International’s⁣ Evidence Lab showed new heavy vehicle tracks
⁢ crossing‍ from Israel directly into Khuza’a. it was also on⁤ May 17 that
⁣ the Israeli military⁤ announced the launch of operation “Gideon’s
⁣ Chariots,” signalling an⁤ expansion of its‍ offensive in‍ the occupied Gaza
Strip. While palestinian media reported that Palestinian Islamic Jihad
fighters targeted⁤ an⁢ Israeli tank in Khuza’a with an RPG on ⁢May 20, the
scale of subsequent destruction indicates far more‍ than tactical
‍ engagement.
⁣

⁣ Further⁢ visual evidence of the devastation emerged swiftly. By May 27,
⁤ drone footage circulated⁤ on social media and verified by Amnesty
International,provided undeniable,detailed visual ‍evidence that large
⁤ sections of Khuza’a had been completely reduced to rubble over the
⁢ preceding days. A video posted on social media and verified by Amnesty
International showed three unarmoured excavators bringing down what‍ was
‍ ⁢ left of a building ⁣in Khuza’a, suggesting ⁢that there was ⁢no major
⁤ perceived threat to the soldiers ⁣operating‍ them and that this was not a
⁣ combat zone.

In a statement on May 25, Israeli military commander⁤ Lt. Col Dor Yoetz
⁤‍ declared in a letter to ⁤troops they⁤ had set out to “eliminate the
⁣ terrorist nest known as Khirbat Ikhza’a,” a different name used in Hebrew
to refer to Khuza’a. He said that within a few days they defeated their
⁤ ⁢ enemy, and that “Khirbat Ikhza’a no longer ⁢exists.”
⁤

The dire ⁤reality was confirmed by the ⁤municipality of⁤ Khuza’a‍ itself on
‍ May 31, which released a statement on its facebook page asserting that
⁣ ⁢ “the amount of destruction in the town exceeds all estimates, putting the
town entirely⁣ out of service.” This ⁤recent ⁤devastation follows earlier
reports from ⁣the municipality in ‍February 2025, stating ‍that much of⁣ the
‍ ‍ town had already been destroyed. An Israeli displacement order‍ issued in
⁢ mid-March forced residents to abandon what little remained. This
⁣ displacement order was particularly devastating for residents ⁤who had
attempted to rebuild their lives in Khuza’a and rehabilitate their homes
‍ and lands following widespread destruction in late 2023 ⁢and early 2024.
‍ ⁣