The destruction of Rafah: A city unmade

When the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas ended on 18 March 2025, the city of Rafah – already one of the most densely populated and fragile areas of Gaza – became the final refuge for hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians. Families who had fled bombardments in the north and centre of the Strip now found themselves trapped at Gaza’s southernmost edge.

By May 2025, much of that refuge no longer existed. Satellite imagery and user-generated content analysed by the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) show the scale of destruction that unfolded in Rafah over just eight weeks. Entire neighbourhoods in eastern Rafah were levelled; by 11 May, nearly seven in every ten buildings within CIR’s area of analysis had been destroyed.

The imagery tells a stark story of destruction. Homes, schools, and markets that once formed the dense fabric of Rafah’s community are now flattened expanses of rubble. Near the newly constructed Morag Corridor – a strip of cleared land separating Rafah from the rest of Gaza – the patterns of destruction are especially severe, suggesting systematic demolition rather than incidental damage.

Even displacement offered no safety. CIR identified at least two camps for internally displaced people in northeastern Rafah, encompassing hundreds of tents, which disappeared between March and April 2025. What became of their residents remains unclear.

In total, CIR’s analysis of 17,916 structures shows a 219% increase in destroyed buildings since February 2025 – an escalation that coincided with statements from Israeli officials pledging to “repeat the formula” used in Rafah elsewhere in Gaza.

This report documents the physical erasure of a city that had become Gaza’s last refuge, revealing not only the extent of its destruction but also the systematic nature of the operations that reshaped its landscape.

1. Executive summary

CIR investigated the destruction of the built environment in Rafah between 18 March 2025 (when the Israel-Hamas ceasefire ended) and 11 May 2025¹. CIR used satellite imagery to analyse an area of interest (AOI) in eastern Rafah city, as western neighbourhoods adjacent to the Gaza-Egypt border had already sustained high levels of damage before 18 March 2025. A map of CIR’s AOI is provided in Section 2.2.

• In total, CIR analysed 17,916 structures;
• On 1 February 2025, 3,794 (22.2%) of structures were destroyed;²
• On 11 May 2025, 12,137 (67.7%) of structures had been destroyed;
• This represents a 219.9% increase in the number of destroyed structures.

By 11 May 2025, almost 7 in every 10 structures within the AOI had been destroyed.

CIR found that some of the most significant destruction between 18 March and 11 May 2025 took place in areas adjacent to the newly developed Morag Corridor, which separates Rafah from the rest of Gaza (see Section 4.2).³

CIR also identified two possible camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northeastern Rafah, encompassing 374 tents, which were moved or destroyed between 18 March and 5 April 2025 (see Section 4.3).

CIR found moderate levels of destruction amongst sites of critical infrastructure throughout the AOI (see Section 4.4). However, CIR could not independently verify through satellite imagery alone the extent to which some infrastructure, such as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, remain in a functioning state.

CIR has highlighted three incidents consisting of user-generated content (UGC), showing the destruction of buildings in the Rafah AOI between 18 March and 11 May 2025 (see Section 5). The footage showed that both explosives and construction vehicles were used to destroy residential buildings; CIR verified the presence of IDF soldiers and vehicles in two incidents.

CIR has also gathered statements from Israeli politicians and the IDF, which called for the destruction of Rafah, and noted which military brigades have allegedly been operating in the city (see Section 3.1). Notably, IDF Arabic Spokesperson Avichay Adraee has stated that, “We will repeat the formula we implemented in
Rafah in additional areas of the Strip”.⁴

2. Report details

2.1 Date scope

CIR has assessed changes to Rafah’s built environment between 18 March 2025, when Israel returned to fighting in Gaza following a two-month ceasefire, and an intelligence cut-off of 11 May 2025.⁵

To make its assessment, CIR acquired Planet SkySat Imagery (0.5-metre resolution) from three dates: 15 October 2023, 1 February 2025, and 11 May 2025. Imagery from 15 October 2023, accompanied by building footprint data from OpenStreetMaps, allowed analysts to establish a baseline of structures within the area of interest (AOI).

Imagery was selected based on the level of completeness of coverage of the AOI. For example, imagery from 1 February 2025 was selected as it allowed CIR to ascertain the level of damage in Rafah before the ceasefire’s expiration on 18 March 2025, and covered Rafah in its entirety, whereas other imagery captured closer to 18 March 2025 only covered specific neighbourhoods within the city.

CIR compared the satellite imagery from October 2023, February 2025 and May 2025 in order to record any structures which had been destroyed over this investigation period.

The incidents and statements, allegations, and testimonies (SATs) included within this report were also recorded after the ceasefire’s expiration on 18 March 2025.

2.2 Location scope

CIR conducted initial scoping research to assess existing levels of damage and destruction to strcutures in Rafah by analysing satellite imagery from 1 February 2025. Following this research, CIR determined that multiple neighbourhoods within western Rafah had sustained significant damage prior to 1 February 2025. These neighbourhoods included areas adjacent to the Philadelphi Corridor, which marks the border between southwestern Gaza and Egypt, such as Rafah refugee camp, Rafah al-Gharbieh, and Tel al-Sultan.

Satellite imagery of these neighbourhoods from October 2023, when the current Israel-Hamas conflict began, and 1 February 2025, has been compared in Figures 1-3, showing the levels of damage at the beginning of CIR’s investigation period.

CIR’s assessment that these neighbourhoods were significantly damaged by 1 February 2025 is corroborated by past data published by the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), which noted that 19,248 buildings within Rafah city had already been damaged in December 2024.⁶ UNOSAT’s dataset also showed that the density of damaged buildings in Rafah camp, Tel al-Sultan, and Rafah Al-Gharbieh was very high in December 2024.⁷

Following CIR’s assessment that areas in western Rafah had already sustained significant damage before its investigation period began, CIR established an AOI comprising eastern parts of Rafah City and its outskirts, including areas near the newly-constructed Morag Corridor.⁸ This area includes the Khirbat al-Adas, al-Zuhur, and al-Hashash neighbourhoods.

CIR’s assessment of satellite imagery from 1 February 2025, as well as UNOSAT data from December 2024, concluded that these neighbourhoods were not as severely damaged as areas of western Rafah prior to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire’s expirationon 18 March 2025. Therefore, damage observed within later imagery of these areas from 11 May 2025 is highly likely to have been caused during CIR’s investigation period, between 18 March 2025 and 11 May 2025.

CIR also utilised the IDF’s evacuation map of Gaza to establish the boundaries of its AOI.⁹

This map was first published by the IDF on 1 December 2023 in order to “notify Palestinian civilians of active combat zones”, and divides the Gaza Strip into hundreds of small zones or blocks.¹⁰ CIR’s AOI encompasses the following blocks within the IDF-designated evacuation map of Gaza: 4, 5, 6, 7, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 2361, 2364, 2365, 2372, 2374.¹¹

Figure 4 shows the extent of CIR’s AOI, encompassing areas of eastern Rafah, including some areas adjacent to the Morag Corridor.

2.3 Report methodology

To assess the extent of damage to buildings within the AOI, CIR collected building footprint data from Open-Street Maps (OSM), which provided the number and location of permanent structures in Rafah prior to any damage or destruction (before the current Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023).¹³ OSM building footprint data indicated that CIR’s AOI contained 17,916 structures before the conflict began.

CIR then gathered SkySat Scene imagery of its AOI from Planet Labs, which has a resolution of 50 centimetres per pixel and can be used to observe small changes such as the destruction of small buildings. CIR compared three SkySat Scene images from 15 October 2023, 1 February 2025 and 11 May 2025; assessing visual changes to OSM building footprints between October 2023 and February 2025, and then again between February 2025 and May 2025.

For the purpose of this report, CIR only recorded structures that met the threshold of clear and obvious destruction. Severely or moderately damaged structures were not included in the final count.

As highlighted in Section 5, CIR combined its assessment of satellite imagery with UGC filmed from the ground to gain insights into the ways in which the destruction of buildings in Rafah had taken place. CIR has highlighted three incidents consisting of UGC, which showed the destruction of buildings in the AOI between 18 March and 11 May 2025, through the use of both construction vehicles and explosions.

Whilst manual satellite imagery analysis mapping typically tends to provide results with lower margins of error in comparison to automated damage mapping methodologies, errors do still occur. A peer review was implemented in order to further mitigate errors and ensure consistency. CIR assesses the methodology employed for this report ensures results to a high confidence level, but does accept that errors will still exist considering the scale of the assessed area.

Find CIR’s overall methodology, which includes the verification of incidents and applies to all CIR reports, here.

3. Statements, allegations and testimonies

3.1 Israeli statements 

IDF evacuation orders 

• The IDF’s Arabic Spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, shared an evacuation order covering “the areas of Rafah, the municipalities of Al-Nasr and Al-Shawka, the eastern and western regional areas, and the neighbourhoods of Al-Salam, Al-Manara, and Qizan Al-Najjar” on 31 March 2025 (Figure 5).¹⁴ The order further read that “The IDF is returning to fight with great force to eliminate the capabilities of terrorist organisations in these areas” and instructed individuals to “move immediately to the shelters in Al Mawasi”.¹⁵
• On 1 April 2025, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) wrote that “Tens of thousands of civilians are fleeing Rafah under gunfire”.¹⁶

Following this order, the entirety of the Rafah Governorate had either been placed under evacuation or designated as part of the IDF’s buffer zone.¹⁸

IDF statements on divisions and brigades

In official statements posted to Telegram since 18 March 2025, the IDF has noted that the following brigades have been operating in Rafah or the Morag Corridor:

• The 1st Infantry “Golani” Brigade (part of the IDF’s 36th Division), as noted in IDF statements from 9 April 2025 and 10 May 2025.¹⁹
• The 84th Infantry “Givati” Brigade (part of the IDF’s 162nd Division), as noted in an IDF press release from 9 April 2025.²⁰
• The 188th Armoured “Barak” Brigade (part of the IDF’s 36th Division), as noted in an IDF statement from 9 May 2025.²¹
• The 205th Reserve Armoured Brigade (part of the IDF’s 146th Division), as noted in an IDF statement from 4 May 2025.²²
• The 14th Reserve Armoured Brigade (part of the IDF’s 252nd Division), as noted in an IDF press release from 2 April 2025.²³

Based on available content, CIR did not independently verify the presence of these IDF Brigades between 18 March 2025 and 11 May 2025 in the Rafah Governorate. However, footage reshared on X (formerly Twitter) on 19 April 2025 by Palestinian journalist Younis Tirawi shows an Israeli First Master Sergeant in a heavily damaged area, with two excavators damaging existing structures in the background.²⁴ By examining the lettering visible on his uniform (צהנ(, CIR verified that the First Master Sergeant was a member of the 35th Paratrooper Brigade (Tzanhanim) (Figure 7).²⁵ While the post claims that the footage was filmed in Rafah, at the time of writing, CIR has not independently verified the incident location due to the limited available content and the significant levels of damage sustained in the area.²⁶

Israeli Politicians’ Statements

• In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter) on 13 April 2025, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated: “During the holiday, the IDF completed the capture of the Morag axis, which divides Khan Yunis from Rafah and bisects the Gaza Strip from east to west along a 12 km stretch, making the area between the Philadelphia axis and Morag part of the Israeli security zone. […] Gaza will become smaller and more isolated, and more and more of its residents will be forced to evacuate from the fighting zones”.²
• Multiple Israeli politicians have made statements supporting the destruction of buildings in Rafah and the IDF’s alleged encirclement of the city:
  • In an X post from 15 May 2025, Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, stated that “[…] we flatten Rafah, Khan Younis and Gaza”.²⁹
  • On the same date, Israel’s Social Equality Minister, May Golan, stated, “We
    must act as we did in Jabalia and Rafah – eliminate and destroy!”, referring to
    future IDF operations in the West Bank.³⁰
  • The Israeli Minister of Heritage, Amichay Eliyahu, stated on 17 April 2025 that “The way we are moving forward now, that we are encircling Rafah and preventing humanitarian aid, […] is the path”.³¹
  • Additionally, IDF Spokesperson Adraee claimed “We will repeat the formula we implemented in Rafah in additional areas of the Strip” in an X post from 5 May 2025.³²

3.2 Palestinian statements

On 6 May 2025, the Palestinian Government Media Office published a statement which described Israel’s actions in Rafah as “one of the most horrific forms of genocide and ethnic cleansing known to modern times”.³³ The statement further claimed:

“The ‘Israeli’ occupation has transformed Rafah Governorate into a ‘closed military operations zone,’ completely isolating it from the rest of the Gaza Strip governorates, considering it a complete red zone. It continues to commit horrific massacres against defenseless civilians, and has caused the systematic and comprehensive destruction of infrastructure, vital facilities, and residential homes, rendering the city uninhabitable”.³⁴

The statement also provided figures relating to the alleged amount of destroyed infrastructure in Rafah. According to the Palestinian government media office, the following infrastructure has been “severely or completely destroyed” or rendered “out of service”:

• 90% of the homes in Rafah Governorate, representing more than 20,000 buildings containing more than 50,000 housing units.
• 22 of Rafah Governorate’s 24 water wells.
• More than 85% of the governorate’s sewage networks.
• 320 kilometres of roads.
• Twelve medical centres, including the Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital.
• More than 100 mosques.
• Tens of thousands of acres of agricultural land.³⁵

3.3 Media allegations and testimonies 

Haaretz allegations regarding demolitions 

• A Haaretz article published on 9 April 2025 noted that, “The Israeli military is preparing to incorporate the southern Gaza city of Rafah and its surrounding neighborhoods into the buffer zone it is establishing along the border” and that, “the demolition of all buildings is under consideration”.³⁶ Haaretz’s claim regarding the buffer zone aligns with evacuation order maps published by IDF Spokesperson Avichay Adraee, which first showed the Rafah Governorate as part of the buffer zone on 6 April 2025.³⁷
• A New York Times investigation into demolitions in Rafah was published on 15 May 2025. It found that “The Israeli military has destroyed extensive parts of Rafah since it ended a cease-fire in March after talks with Hamas collapsed”.³⁸ According to the news outlet: “Before the cease-fire in January, Israel had demolished areas of Rafah along Gaza’s borders. But in areas of Rafah away from the borders, many buildings were still standing, though damaged. The recent destruction is much more far-reaching, flattening mosques, schools, greenhouses and even greenery”.³⁹
• The area highlighted by The New York Times as “razed after the ceasefire” covers eastern areas of Rafah and is similar to CIR’s AOI, highlighted in Section 2.2.⁴⁰ Whilst The New York Times’ report also used satellite imagery to broadly determine areas where damage occurred, it did not include granular analysis relating to the precise number of buildings that had been destroyed.

IDF soldiers’ testimonies published by +972  magazine

• In an article from 15 May 2025, the +972 Magazine media outlet claimed:
• Over the course of the war, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office, the [Israeli] army had destroyed more than 50,000 housing units in Rafah – 90 percent of its residential neighborhoods. Now, the army proceeded to flatten Rafah’s remaining structures, turning the entire city into a buffer zone and cutting off Gaza’s only border crossing with Egypt”.⁴¹
• The article also contained testimonies from unnamed Israeli soldiers. A soldier who “recently returned from reserve duty in Rafah”, who stated: “I secured four or five bulldozers [from another unit], and they demolished 60 houses per day. A one or two story house, they take down within an hour; a three or four-story house takes a bit longer […] The official mission was to open a logistical route for maneuvering, but in practice, the bulldozers were simply destroying homes. The southeastern part of Rafah is completely destroyed. The horizon is flat. There is no city”.⁴²

4. Damage assessment

4.1 Overview

Analysed satellite imagery depicts significant levels of destruction to the built environment within the AOI between February and May 2025. CIR identified 3,794 destroyed structures within the AOI in satellite imagery from 1 February 2025. CIR identified 12,137 destroyed structures within the AOI in imagery captured on 11 May 2025. This represents a 219.9% increase in the number of destroyed structures within the AOI over the course of approximately 2 months.

As a baseline, CIR used Open-Street Maps (OSM) Building Footprint data to identify 17,916 structures within the AOI. Based on this figure, CIR estimates that 22.1% (3,794) of structures within the AOI were destroyed in February 2025. This rose to the recorded destruction of over two-thirds (67.7% (12,137)) of all mapped structures within the AOI by 11 May 2025. The number of destroyed structures recorded by CIR more than tripled between February and May, rising from 3,794 to 12,137. Nearly 7 in 10 mapped structures in the AOI were destroyed by 11 May 2025.

In February, CIR only observed two zones (Zone 20, Zone 2372) where at least 75% of all structures in a zone had been destroyed. By May 2025, at least 75% of all structures had been destroyed in 11 zones. Newly destroyed structures were identified by CIR in every zone within the AOI.

In Zone 2364, a neighbourhood of Tel al-Sultan composed primarily of multi-story mixed use buildings, 93.8% (994) of all structures were classified as destroyed by May 2025, rising from 59.2% (588) in February; representing the zone with the highest recorded destruction as a proportion of mapped structures.

Zone 4, which contained the greatest number of mapped structures (2336) saw the greatest number of destroyed structures for a zone, with 1,828 (78.3%) structures classified as destroyed by 11 May 2025, rising by 1,043 between 1 February and 11 May 2025.

Zone 30 experienced the most abrupt surge in destruction. Eight of the 1,008 mapped structures in Zone 30 were classified as destroyed by CIR in February 2025. The number of destroyed structures increased to 683 by 11 May 2025, constituting a
rise of over 8000%.

Relatively minimal increases in the number of destroyed structures were observed in Zone 2361 (5 new destroyed structures between February and May) and Zone 2372 (6 new destroyed structures). Both zones had already experienced the highest levels of destruction across the AOI by February 2025. In Zone 2361, 84.5% of mapped structures were destroyed by 1 February 2025. In Zone 2372, 75.2% of mapped structures were destroyed by 1 February 2025.

CIR observed widespread damage to agricultural infrastructure in the AOI. Qualitative analysis indicates high levels of destruction to agricultural areas in the north and east of the AOI.

Table 1.

4.2 Destruction near the Morag Corridor

Damage to the built environment in proximity to the newly developed Morag Corridor was especially notable. CIR analysed two villages, selected based on their proximity to the Morag corridor, that experienced levels of destruction above the norm for their zone.

Locale 1, a small village of 158 mapped structures in Zone 21, contained only 4 destroyed structures by 1 February 2025. That figure rose to 151 by 11 May 2025, with 95.6% of mapped structures within the area classified as destroyed, approximately 10% higher than the rate of destruction recorded for Zone 21 as a whole (85.85%).

Locale 2, a village of 443 mapped structures straddling Zone 30 and Zone 32, contained only 5 destroyed structures by 1 February 2025. That figure rose to 321 destroyed structures by 11 May 2025, with the large-scale earthworks of the Morag Corridor passing through an area formerly composed of apparent residential structures and polytunnels. Locale 1 experienced slightly higher levels of destruction (72.9%) relative to the average for Zone 30 (67.8%) and Zone 32 (69.4%).

4.3 Destruction of temporary structures

During its analysis of satellite imagery from 1 February 2025, CIR identified two areas in Rafah where temporary structures resembling tents were present within Block 2372 on the IDF-designated evacuation map of Gaza, in northeastern Rafah. Later imagery from 11 May 2025 indicated that these temporary structures had been moved or destroyed. These areas are highlighted in Figure 15.

CIR considers it likely that these areas were internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camps, based on their size and locations, as well as media reporting from Mada Masr which indicated that a “tent city” was being cleared in Rafah to make way for a “controlled zone” where humanitarian aid could be distributed.⁴³

However, this could not be independently verified due to the lack of available footage. Temporary structures, such as tents, were not included within CIR’s overall assessment of damaged or destroyed buildings in Rafah, as the baseline data from OSM only includes permanent structures. However, CIR conducted further satellite imagery analysis to ascertain changes to the number of tents which had been moved or destroyed, and to determine the approximate date when they were moved or destroyed.

First possible IDP camp

The first possible IDP camp is shown adjacent to Gush Katif Road, to the east of Tel al-Sultan, at the following coordinates: 31.3105, 34.2564. Satellite imagery indicates that approximately 300 temporary structures resembling tents were present at this location from at least 1 February 2025 until 18 March 2025, as well as at least 35 other temporary structures, such as containers and polytunnels.

Satellite imagery of the possible IDP camp from 31 March 2025 indicates that approximately 288 of the temporary structures resembling tents had been moved or destroyed, with approximately 12 remaining in place, along with approximatel five other temporary structures. Further Planet SkySat imagery from 5 April 2025 shows that all structures at the site have been destroyed or removed, and tyre tracks from heavy vehicles can be observed. These changes are highlighted within Figures 16 and 17.

Second possible IDP camp

The second possible IDP camp is located approximately 350 metres northwest of the first possible IDP camp, adjacent to Gush Katif Road, east of Tel al-Sultan, at the following coordinates: 31.3126, 34.2532. Planet Skysat satellite imagery from 18 March 2025 shows that the possible camp is comprised of approximately 74 temporary structures resembling tents, as well as at least 20 other temporary structures, such as shipping containers.

Later satellite imagery of the possible camp from 28 March 2025 indicates that all of the 74 temporary structures resembling tents have been moved or destroyed, as only five other temporary structures resembling containers can be observed. Stretches of disturbed ground resembling what appear to be two newly constructed pathways can also be observed. These changes are highlighted in Figure 18.

4.4 Critical infrastructure

• • Based on data seen by CIR from the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU), CIR identified limited damage to some Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure within the AOI. CIR identified at least two instances of WASH infrastructure damage (Figure 19 refers).

Based on data from OpenStreetMap, three structures containing pharmacies appear to have been destroyed within the AOI. One structure reportedly containing a doctor’s clinic, the Waleed Dheem Clinic in Zone 23, appears to have been destroyed, whilst larger health infrastructure, including the Emirate Hospital in Tel al-Sultan, appears to remain standing.

Considering the analysis within this report primarily relies on satellite imagery, CIR could not independently verify whether further critical infrastructure within the AOI had been otherwise damaged or rendered non-functioning.

5. UGC showing destruction to buildings in Rafah

CIR has verified three incidents showing the destruction of buildings in the AOI in Rafah since 18 March 2025. Their locations within CIR’s AOI are highlighted in Figure 21.

As well as these three incidents CIR has verified a further four incidents showing the destruction of residential buildings in Rafah between 18 March and 11 May 2025 (IPIN2852, [GRAPHIC WARNING] IPIN2857, IPIN3094 and IPIN3098). However, these incidents are not included in this report, since they occurred in neighbourhoods outside of CIR’s AOI.

• Excavators demolish residential buildings in Al-Shaboura, Rafah IPIN3096
  • Footage shared on 23 April 2025 shows at least four excavators demolishing what appears to be four residential buildings in Rafah’s al-Shaboura neighbourhood.⁴⁴
  • The footage was filmed from an Israeli Merkava III main battle tank (MBT), and an armed IDF soldier was also positioned at the scene of the demolition.⁴⁵ CIR could not independently verify whether all the damage shown occurred recently or in prior incidents.
    The footage was cross-referenced with satellite imagery from Google Earth, which enabled CIR to verify that it was captured on Othman Bin Affan Street, located within Block 4 on the IDF-designated evacuation map, at the following coordinates: 31.2843, 34.2575 (Figure 22).

The uploader of the footage on Telegram noted that the video was “sent to me by follower T.,[sic] showing the demolition of buildings a few days ago”.⁴⁷ However, CIR could not verify the exact date when the footage was captured, nor identify any public statements made in relation to this incident by politicians or military officials.

• IDF soldiers and construction vehicles in Al-Shaboura, Rafah IPIN3100
  • Footage shared on 6 May 2025 shows an aerial view of the damage to al-Shaboura neighbourhood in Rafah.⁴⁸ The footage shows armed Israeli soldiers present at a site where five crawler excavators and one bulldozer are parked, with an Israeli flag raised in between the vehicles.⁴⁹ The footage shows the extent of damage in the neighbourhood, including extensive damage to residential buildings, as well as some damage to the Rafah Boys Preparatory School, Al-Awda Mosque, and a recreational centre.⁵⁰
  • The footage was cross-referenced with satellite imagery from Google Earth, which enabled CIR to verify that it was captured on al-Halaby Street, located within Block 7 on the IDF-designated evacuation map, at the following coordinates: 31.2796, 34.2579 (Figure 23).

Footage of the incident was shared by a journalist from the Israeli Channel 14 news outlet, Hallel Biton Rosen, who included the caption, “Watch the crazy destruction of the Shavura neighbourhood in Rafah”.⁵²

A Telegram post from the IDF on 9 May 2025 alleged that “IDF troops [had] located and dismantled underground terrorist infrastructure in Rafah” and “entered additional terrorist infrastructure sites in the area”.⁵³ However, CIR could not
independently verify whether this statement corresponds to the damaged buildings shown in footage of the incident, or whether the damaged infrastructure was being used by a designated terrorist organisation or militant group.

Explosions at six residential buildings in Al-Masbah, Rafah IPIN3101

• Footage reshared on 22 May 2025 shows simultaneous explosions of six residential buildings in the al-Masbah neighbourhood in Rafah.⁵⁴A voice speaking in Hebrew is audible in the background, counting down to the moment of the explosion in the video.
• The footage was cross-referenced with satellite imagery from Google Earth, which enabled CIR to verify that it was captured near Omar Ben al-Khatab Street, approximately 150 metres from the Morag Corridor, within Block 34 on the IDF-designated evacuation map, at the following coordinates: 31.3097, 34.2783 (Figure 24).

The footage was reshared to X by the @trackingIsrael account, which included the caption, “An Israeli Givati soldier documents the detonation of ethnically cleansed Palestinians’ homes”.⁵⁶ At the time of writing, CIR could not independently verify whether the Givati Brigade was involved in the incident.

In a statement from 19 May 2025, the IDF claimed that “The Golani Brigade combat team has been operating […] in the ‘Morag’ corridor between the Khan Younis Brigade and Rafah. So far, the forces have neutralised hundreds of terrorist infrastructures, eliminated dozens of terrorists, and located dozens of mine
shafts”.⁵⁷

While the incident occurred approximately 150 metres from the Morag Corridor, CIR could not independently verify whether this statement corresponds to the targeted buildings shown in footage of the incident, or whether the targeted infrastructure was being used by a designated terrorist organisation or militant group.

Footnotes:

¹ CIR analysed satellite imagery from 1 February 2025 to ascertain the level of damage in Rafah before the ceasefire’s expiration on 18 March 2025.

² CIR analysed satellite imagery from 1 February 2025 to ascertain the level of damage in Rafah before the ceasefire’s expiration on 18 March 2025.

³ SAT3790

⁴ SAT3981

⁵ SAT3940 and SAT3941

⁶ SAT2831

⁷ ibid

⁸ The Morag corridor has been described as a “second Philadelphi” corridor by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu which separates Rafah from the rest of Gaza (SAT3790). The IDF claimed it had completed the establishment of the corridor on 12 April 2025 (SAT3950).

⁹ SAT1290

¹⁰ SAT1290 and SAT4012

¹¹ SAT1290

¹² ibid

¹³ OSM is an open map database, which uses data from surveys, satellite imagery, and other geodata sources to provide a detailed world map (SAT4013).

¹⁴ EO0111

¹⁵ ibid

¹⁶ SAT3979

¹⁷ EO0111

¹⁸ EO0111 and SAT1290. The IDF’s buffer zone regularly changes, as per Avichay Adraee’s evacuation maps and the IDF website’s evacuation map, though typically encompasses areas adjacent to the Israeli border. Civilians are told not to enter the buffer zone, and satellite imagery indicates that widespread clearances have occurred within the zone.

¹⁹ SAT4002 and SAT4003

²⁰ SAT4004

²¹ SAT3989

²² SAT4003

²³ SAT4005

²⁴ IP12773

²⁵ SAT4009

²⁶ CIR analysts continue to work on identifying this location and will report back if the incident location has been verified.

²⁷ IP12773 and SAT4009

²⁸ SAT3749

²⁹ SAT3977

³⁰ SAT3961

³¹ SAT3831

³² SAT3981

³³ SAT3980

³⁴ Ibid

³⁵ Ibid

³⁶ SAT3997

³⁷ EO0115

³⁸ SAT3984

³⁹ Ibid

⁴⁰ Ibid

⁴¹ SAT3974

⁴² Ibid

⁴³ SAT4000

⁴⁴ IP12748

⁴⁵ Ibid

⁴⁶ Ibid

⁴⁷ Ibid

⁴⁸ IP12809 (0:21)

⁴⁹ IP12809 (0:00)

⁵⁰ Ibid

⁵¹ Ibid

⁵² Ibid

⁵³ SAT3989

⁵⁴ IP12821 (0:21)

⁵⁵ IP12821

⁵⁶ Ibid

⁵⁷ SAT3988