Researchers documented the destruction of two schools in central Gaza during the truce [Getty]
Israel violated the ceasefire agreement with Hamas on multiple occasions during the first three weeks of the truce, according to new findings by Forensic Architecture.
Analysis of satellite imagery and visual evidence on social media revealed at least 17 separate acts of violence perpetrated by the Israeli military between 19 January and 9 February in violation of the truce.
Palestinians have accused Israel of violating the truce on multiple occasions since the six-week ceasefire came into effect on 19 January.
Forensic Architecture’s findings show that in the first three weeks of the ceasefire, Israeli forces carried out 16 separate attacks against Palestinian civilians, killing and wounding dozens of people.
In the first two days of the truce, Israel launched five attacks in Rafah, killing two civilians including a child.
Other attacks took place as civilians moved back to the north after Israel began withdrawing from the Netzarim Corridor. On 2 February, a drone strike on a vehicle injured seven people.
Israel also continued its destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure after the truce came into effect.
Forensic Architecture documented numerous instances of property demolition in Rafah and the Netzarim Corridor by Israeli forces.
Two schools near the corridor were torn down by troops before they withdrew from the area.
The data collected for the report should not be considered exhaustive, the researchers wrote.
Israel’s onslaught on Gaza has killed at least 48,400 people, mainly women and children, leading to accusations that its forces are committing genocide against the Palestinians.
The country is preparing to fight genocide charges at the International Court of Justice, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant are both wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The assault has resulted in the destruction of much of the strip’s infrastructure, including almost all of its hospitals and most of its schools and residential buildings.
As of January, almost 70 percent of the buildings in Gaza had been either destroyed or damaged, including 92 percent of housing units.
Israel’s violations have threatened to undermine the fragile truce and complicate efforts to move to its second phase.
During the first six-week phase, Hamas released 33 captives held in Gaza in return for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces have withdrawn from the Netzarim Corridor and allowed hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to the north.
The two sides are now negotiating the terms of the second phase, under which Hamas will release the remaining prisoners, Israel will withdraw from the remaining areas of Gaza, and a permanent end to the war will be agreed.
