The destruction of more than a third of Gaza’s homes as Israel bombards the territory in pursuit of Hamas is leading international legal experts to raise the concept of “domicide”, writes our diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour, in his latest Guardian analysis piece.

In the current Gaza war, launched after Hamas launched its 7 October terror attack on southern Israel, independent experts estimate that as much as 40% of the housing in Gaza has been damaged or destroyed. The United Nations says 1.8 million people are internally displaced inside the strip, many living in overcrowded UN shelters in the south.

Although Gaza has been damaged in previous conflicts and rebuilt, largely with money from the Gulf states, the current scale of the devastation is of a different order, says Patrick.

Israel says all damage to buildings and loss of civilian life is regrettable but made necessary by Hamas deliberately hiding in schools and hospitals and by its refusal to surrender.

To hear why legal experts are calling for ‘domicide’ to be classed as a distinct crime against humanity, and whether the UN vote on a ceasefire earlier this week can change the situation on the ground, listen to our Today in Focus podcast via the link in bio.

Photo from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on 12 December by Mohammed Abed