- Na véspera do cessar-fogo em 10 de outubro, Israel usou amplamente um novo armamento: M113 de infantaria blindados recebendo entre uma e três toneladas de explosivos.
- As explosões, associadas a bombardeios aéreos e a tratores de casco blindado, derrubaram dezenas de edifícios em Gaza City, com imagens de satélite e vídeos aéreos mostrando os impactos.
- Em Tel al‑Hawa e Sabra, moradores afirmaram que, na maioria dos casos, houve evacuação prévia após avisos, embora haja relatos de destruição sem aviso em alguns imóveis.
- Residências, incluindo a casa da família Badawi, foram demolidas pelas explosões vindas dos APCs, deixando centenas de pessoas desabrigadas; a Reuters não conseguiu confirmar todas as circunstâncias de cada ataque.
- Especialistas ouvidos pela Reuters estimam que os APCs carregavam de uma a três toneladas de explosivos, e que esse uso é incomum e acarreta danos extensos a áreas residenciais. Autoridades militares de Israel não comentaram detalhes sobre esses ataques.
In the weeks leading up to the Gaza ceasefire on October 10, Israel deployed a new type of weapon: M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers packed with between 1 and 3 tons of explosives, according to Reuters’ investigation. The aim was to accelerate demolitions as troops advanced toward central Gaza City.
As tanks and airstrikes supported infantry, these APCs contributed to the destruction of numerous buildings in densely populated areas. Drone footage and satellite images indicate extensive collapse of structures in Tel al-Hawa and Sabra, with nearby homes damaged or obliterated.
Residents report that, in many cases, people fled after Israeli warnings, yet some families were displaced despite such warnings. In one notable instance, a five-storey home on Dawla Street in Tel al-Hawa was destroyed by an APC blast on September 14, leaving more than 40 relatives homeless.
Reuters’ review of satellite imagery and expert analyses identified at least two detonated APCs among the rubble in Gaza City. Remains of the vehicles and scattered debris were observed in the area during investigations conducted in November.
Analysts estimate the ordnance inside APCs ranged from 1 to 3 tonnes, inferred from cabin space and wreckage. The strength of these explosions could produce blast effects comparable to some large airborne munitions and cause widespread damage to nearby buildings.
The use of APCs as weapons is described as highly unusual by military experts consulted for the report, given the civilian density of the areas targeted. Israel’s military said it follows rules of war and uses engineering equipment for operational purposes, without detailing specific targets.
Hamas, via its spokesperson, denied that booby traps or widespread device placements justified the demolitions, arguing that the actions aimed to displace residents. The report notes that international observers and scholars question whether such scale of destruction complies with humanitarian law when civilian infrastructure is affected.
The investigation also covers the broader context: thousands of APCs have been used amid a shortage of other demolition tools, including Caterpillar D9 bulldozers, and amid shifts in weapon stockpiles and procurement. Israel’s government and allied agencies did not respond to Reuters on several technical questions.
Satellite analysis shows that around 650 buildings in Sabra, Tel al-Hawa and nearby areas were demolished or heavily damaged in the six weeks before the ceasefire, underscoring the scale of urban destruction in south-central Gaza City.
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