This policy is part of Israel's defense strategy in the Gaza Strip. The Chief of Staff had good reason to say that, “The D-9 [a bulldozer] is a strategic weapon here.” As a safeguard against Palestinian attacks, Israel is creating “security strips” around places where Israeli civilians or armed forces are located.

The houses are usually demolished at night, without giving the residents any warning. In certain cases, where there were exchanges of gunfire between Palestinians and Israeli forces, some residents left their homes and moved to safer dwellings. However, in most instances, some members of the family remained in their house to protect their property. Dozens of testimonies given to B'Tselem indicate that these residents were given no warning and were forced to flee after hearing the noise of tanks and bulldozers at their door. Their personal possessions were buried under the ruins.

Israel calls this policy "clearing," a name that conceals the destructive and long-term consequences for the Palestinian residents in the Gaza Strip. Thousands of people have been made homeless and thousands have lost their sole source of income for many years to come. Israel caused this damage to people although it did not contend that they themselves were involved in attacks, or attempted attacks, against Israeli civilians or security forces.

The destruction of many hundreds of acres of agricultural land based on the claim that Palestinians fired from these lands, and the demolition of entire residential neighborhoods on the charge that some of them contained tunnels, constitute excessive injury to the civilian population. This action is illegal. Israel's policy, which is carried out against people whom Israel does not contend were involved in attacks on Israeli civilians or security forces, constitutes collective punishment. Despite these violations of international humanitarian law, Israel refuses to compensate Palestinians whose property was damaged in these actions.

Israel remains the occupier in the Occupied Territories. In this capacity, it must protect the safety and well-being of the Palestinian population and take Palestinian needs into account. Israel must, of course, protect Israeli civilians and soldiers, but it is not allowed to do that by causing such extensive harm to the Palestinian population.