Israeli forces in Gaza have systematically destroyed buildings in an attempt to create a buffer zone inside the Palestinian territory, experts and rights groups told French news agency AFP, raising fears over the civilian cost. The plan, not publicly confirmed by Israel, appears to entail taking a significant chunk of territory out of the already Gaza Strip, something experts as well as Israel’s foreign allies have warned against. Since Hamas stormed across the border on October 7, Israeli forces have targeted structures in Gaza within a kilometre (0.6 miles) of the border, said Adi Ben Nun, a…