At least five projects funded by American taxpayers have been destroyed in Israel’s bombing campaign on Gaza since the Hamas terror attacks on October 7, reports have claimed.
One such project was the renovation of one of the oldest and largest sports complexes in Palestine.
The overhaul, which cost as much as $519,000, saw brand-new basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, a soccer field, a running track and accessible bathrooms installed.
The roof of the Gaza Sports Club appears to have been completely devastated by the war.
The AstroTurf field was crushed under the weight of massive tanks, satellite photos obtained by The Associated Press have revealed.
READ MORE: Israel unleashed hundreds of 2,000-pound bombs on Gaza in month, analysis shows
US contractor Anera has built dozens of infrastructure projects in Gaza, including the Sports Club.
Its CEO, Sean Carroll has labeled its destruction “a terrible tragedy.”
He said: “This war is exacting a terrible toll – on human lives and the infrastructure of daily life – that will be felt for decades to come.”
The exact cause of the damage seen in images is hard to establish from satellite images alone.
Some reports and government sources has verified Israeli military attacks near US-backed projects in Gaza.
But Israeli strikes in Gaza have reportedly still largely spared major infrastructure projects funded by the US.
The United Nations has identified nearly 40,000 structures destroyed or damaged in the war so far.
Washington has spent over $7 billion in development and humanitarian aid in the West Bank and Gaza since setting up a U.S. Agency for International Development mission decades ago.
That includes $270 million since President Joe Biden ended a hiatus on new funding during Donal Trump’s presidency.
The US also has sent more than $3 billion a year to support Israel’s military.
The Biden administration has also pledged to send Israel at least $14 billion in 2023.
The United Nations has identified more than 37,000 structures destroyed or damaged in the war so far.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry claims more than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed during the war with Israel.
Around two-thirds of those killed in the conflict are women and children, while 53,320 Palestinians have been hurt during the war, according to estimates.
Deaths in the Gaza Strip amount to around 1% of its pre-war population. While around 85% of Gaza has been displaced since the conflict began with a Hamas surprise attack on October 7.
The Israel Defense Forces claim to have killed 7,000 Hamas militants over the last 11 weeks. It has also blamed Hamas for the civilian death toll, alleging it operates in crowded areas.
Pressure has called on Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire. Hamas previously announced it would not be releasing any more Israeli hostages until the war ends.
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