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Three hundred Israeli architects and urban planners have signed a joint statement accusing the Israeli military of causing destruction in the Gaza Strip “on a scale not seen since World War II” and urging an immediate halt to the devastation.
According to Haaretz, the statement — titled “Stop the Destruction – Yes to Rebuilding Gaza” — expressed deep shock over the destruction of cities and civilian areas in Gaza, citing killings, starvation, and mass displacement.
It said the devastation was not only statistical but also represented the erasure of entire living environments and thousands of years of cultural heritage.
The signatories noted that the Israeli army has destroyed more than 280,000 housing units, 2,300 educational facilities, dozens of hospitals and clinics, and hundreds of mosques, churches, markets, shops, and factories.
While condemning Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack, the statement stressed it did not justify harming civilians in Gaza, including women and children, or nearly leveling the entire territory.
The architects and planners demanded an immediate end to the destruction of Gaza’s cities, the displacement of residents in Gaza and the West Bank, and any plans to set up a “humanitarian aid city” in Rafah intended to expel Palestinians abroad.
They urged allowing Palestinians to return to their homes and neighborhoods and to begin “comprehensive, rapid, and just reconstruction” of Gaza.
The statement also condemned attacks by the Israeli army and settlers in the occupied West Bank, saying such actions fundamentally contradict the professional ethics of architecture and urban planning, which aim to create sustainable, just, and dignified environments for all.
Under siege and facing severe restrictions on aid, Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are enduring widespread hunger and a lack of clean water, medicine, and hygiene supplies.
Local and international groups accuse Israel of using starvation and thirst as weapons. The military’s destruction has reportedly damaged 88 percent of Gaza, with repeated displacement forcing people into overcrowded shelters where disease is spreading.
Daily airstrikes continue to hit tents and shelters housing displaced civilians.
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