New evidence has emerged through social media posts by an Israeli soldier documenting the continued demolition of Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip, occurring more than 100 days after the implementation of a ceasefire agreement. Middle East Eye has verified and analyzed three separate videos uploaded in late December by a soldier operating under the private Instagram account name Ariel Ashkenazi.
One video, dated December 25th, was geolocated to the northern Gaza area of Beit Hanoun, showing extensive demolition operations. Subsequent posts on December 26th and 28th featured additional footage of destruction activities. The videos contained concerning captions, with two using the phrase ‘Aliyah Bet’ – a historical reference to illegal Jewish immigration to Palestine between 1921 and 1948. Another video carried the caption ‘the power of the Spartan,’ evoking imagery of brutal strength and enemy elimination.
This terminology aligns with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s September statement urging Israel to prepare to become a ‘super Sparta,’ referencing ancient Greek warfare tactics against Persia.
The documented demolitions have occurred on both sides of the so-called ‘yellow line’ established by Israeli forces following the October ceasefire. This ceasefire was intended to conclude over two years of intense conflict in Gaza that resulted in approximately 71,000 Palestinian fatalities and the destruction of nearly 90% of the territory’s infrastructure.
Despite the ceasefire agreement, reports indicate Israeli forces have killed at least 477 individuals and wounded more than 1,300 others since its implementation. According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, Israeli forces have committed at least 1,300 ceasefire violations, including approximately 200 incidents involving structural demolitions, 430 cases of gunfire directed at civilians, 66 incursions into residential areas, and more than 600 strikes.
Throughout the Gaza conflict, Israeli soldiers have extensively recorded themselves engaging in activities that international experts suggest may constitute war crimes. Documented footage shows soldiers celebrating while detonating civilian structures including homes, universities, and mosques. Other videos reveal disturbing conduct including soldiers forcing bound and blindfolded prisoners to deliver humiliating messages, looting money from Palestinian homes, destroying humanitarian aid parcels with military bulldozers, and burning educational facilities while singing inflammatory songs. Additional content shows soldiers posing in women’s underwear taken from Palestinian residences.