The Israeli newspaper explained that although the Army officially states that this heavy equipment, which demolishes homes in Gaza, is for operational purposes, the compensation model for those who operate it contradicts this claim.

The publication revealed that the Armed Forces pay bulldozer operators approximately 2,500 shekels ($750) to demolish a building up to three stories high, and double that for taller structures.

This amount represents a clear incentive for contractors to participate in the demolition of as many buildings as possible, and if these operations were truly motivated solely by military necessity, as the Army claims, this type of compensation would have little justification, according to the newspaper.

Haaretz noted that homes and other buildings would only be demolished when they pose a threat to soldiers or impede the movement of military vehicles, which would not justify such compensation.

Despite these attractive salaries, for many operators, this work shows an ideological commitment, especially since they include a prominent settler group; in fact, there are virtually no Israeli Arabs, who make up a large portion of the country’s heavy machinery sector, the Hebrew daily reported.

Workers’ talks on the ground, both civilian employees and reserve soldiers, reveal that many of them approach the task with a sense of revenge as they drive their bulldozers through the rubble of Gaza’s cities, it noted.

The destruction of civilian property when there is no compelling military objective and attacks on religious sites, hospitals, and other buildings that serve humanitarian or educational purposes are, in fact, war crimes, Haaretz newspaper stressed.

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