Israeli truck bombs destroy Gaza

‘Gaza Is Over, It’s Gone. There’s Nothing Left’ – Norman Finkelstein

In the late 1960s through into the 1970s, Israel became one of the world’s largest operators of armoured personnel carriers, acquiring thousands of M113 APC vehicles for use as troop transport and support platforms. In recent days ‘before and after the ceasefire’, Israel has modified these old APCs to make them into giant bombs that throw shrapnel everywhere destroying buildings and killing people in their path.

“Hesham Mohammad Badawi’s five-storey home on Dawla Street in the affluent Tel-al-Hawa suburb, damaged by an airstrike earlier in the war, was completely destroyed by an APC explosion on September 14, he and a relative said, leaving him and 41 family members homeless.

“Badawi, who was a few hundred meters away, said he heard at least five APCs detonate in roughly five-minute intervals. He said he received no evacuation warning before the demolition, and family members escaped “by a miracle” amid explosions and heavy gunfire.” – How Israel’s multi-ton truck bombs ripped through Gaza City by Mohammed Shehada in the New Arab.

Conversion into Massive Explosive Vehicles

Instead of transporting troops, many older M113s were filled with large quantities of commercial explosives — sometimes between 1–3 tons — and driven into urban areas before being detonated. This is far larger an explosive device than the 2000 pound bombs dropped from F35s during the initial destruction of Gaza.

This tactic—using the APCs as truck bombs (vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices) — was deployed particularly in Gaza City’s densely populated districts such as Tel al-Hawa and Sabra. This has occurred before and after Trump’s ‘ceasefire’.

Satellite imagery and ground observations indicate multiple buildings and neighbourhood blocks were flattened as a result of these detonations leaving many bodies buried under the rubble.

Remote and Engineering Roles

Both Netanyahu and the IDF claim Israel used M113s in remote-controlled roles, either to detonate booby-traps/IEDs and counter minefields or as unmanned delivery devices for explosives.

Independent reporting (e.g., by Reuters) notes that Israel has not publicly provided detailed evidence to substantiate its claims of widespread booby-trapping. Experts cited in those reports have said that allegations of some booby traps — without concrete evidence — do not on their own justify massive destruction of civilian infrastructure.

Hamas has denied booby trapping buildings saying it does not have the resources to deploy devices in the widespread manner claimed by the IDF.

Many people returning home to Gaza city have camped out beside the buildings that were once their homes. They have been driven away by the sight of these truck bombs coming towards them with the full support of IDF soldiers firing at them.They have been driven away by the sight of these truck bombs coming towards them with the full support of IDF soldiers firing at them.

Norman Finklestein explains in this video below how Israel’s ultimate aim is to ethnically cleanse Gaza by using genocidal tactics.

Ian Curr, Editor
10 Jan 2026

Reference