Israeli occupation army sets Gaza on fire after ceasefire: Deliberate fires target civilian infrastructure
GAZA, Oct. 14 (YPA) – The American website “Drop Site News” has accused the Israeli occupation army of intentionally setting widespread fires in various areas of Gaza City targeting civilian infrastructure following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement.
This move was described as a “systematic destruction operation of what remained of the city before withdrawal.”
Scorched Earth Policy
According to the US site, this wave of fires falls within a policy adopted by the occupation army over the past two years: the burning and destruction of Palestinian buildings and facilities that were temporarily used as headquarters for Israeli military units before their withdrawal.
“Drop Site News” documented the largest operation of deliberate arson since the start of the aggression on the Strip during the night of October 9 and the morning of October 10—just hours after the ceasefire agreement was announced and before its official ratification by the Israeli cabinet.
Targeting the Sewage Treatment Plant
The website clarified that the fires were carried out by soldiers from several Israeli brigades, including Golani, Givati, Nahal, and the recently formed hardline Hishmonaim Brigade.
Among the most prominent facilities targeted was the sewage water treatment plant in the Sheikh Ajlin neighborhood, a vital station considered an essential part of Gaza City’s infrastructure.
Munther Shoblaq, the Director-General of the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility, stated that the destruction of the plant is a blow that could push Gaza’s sewage system to “square one,” emphasizing that the station is one of the oldest in the Strip and its rehabilitation could take years and cost millions of dollars.
Photos and Recordings Attributed to Occupation Soldiers
The report indicates that Israeli soldiers published dozens of photos and video clips of burning buildings as they withdrew from Gaza towards what is known as the “Yellow Line” within the Strip’s territories, as defined in the ceasefire agreement.
In one post circulated on social media, a soldier from the Kfir Brigade appeared standing in front of burning wooden platforms, with a caption stating: “Before departure… we burn the food so it doesn’t reach the people of Gaza, to erase their names.”
Testimonies Confirm the Crime
Hebrew journalist Yuval Abraham had previously published testimonies in July from soldiers who spoke of deliberate burning practices inside Palestinian homes. One soldier said, “Every Arab house we entered had olive oil. We would pour the oil on sofas or anything flammable, then light it or throw a smoke grenade… It was a common practice.”
Gaza Burned by Fire and Siege
This behavior comes after months of concentrated attacks launched by the occupation army on the Strip with the aim of rendering it uninhabitable, through the destruction of housing and vital infrastructure, leading up to the ground incursions into the heart of Gaza City and the demolition of residential towers.
Despite the announcement of the ceasefire agreement, it appears the occupation chose to leave behind a city reduced to scorched ash, sending a fiery message that a ceasefire does not mean an end to the war on the components of life in Gaza.
YPA