Half of Gaza’s buildings damaged or destroyed

Since Israel responded to the Hamas attacks on October 7, more than half of Gaza’s structures have been either damaged or demolished, as reported by the BBC. Detailed before-and-after images in a recent analysis showcased the escalation of bombardment in southern and central Gaza since early December, with Khan Younis particularly affected.

Up to 61% of buildings destroyed

The widespread destruction includes residential areas, shopping lanes reduced to rubble, damaged universities, and churned-up farmlands. The United Nations estimates that over 80% of Gaza’s population, or 1.7 million people, have been displaced, with a significant concentration in the strip’s southern region. The analysis, based on satellite data, reveals that between 50% and 61% of Gaza’s buildings, approximately 144,000 to 175,000 structures, have been damaged or destroyed. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated that they are targeting both Hamas members and “terror infrastructure” in response to inquiries about the damage. The satellite data analysis, conducted by Corey Scher of City University of New York and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University, compares images to identify rapid changes indicating structural damage.

In Khan Younis alone, more than 38,000 buildings, or more than 46% were recently burned or damaged, with over 1,500 buildings demolished or damaged in the last two weeks. The Al-Farra Tower, a 16-story residential block in the city center, was flattened on January 9, contributing to the destruction of the surrounding community since late December.

IDF says it’s targeting only fighters

The IDF has justified its actions, citing Hamas’ embedding in civilian neighbourhoods and targeting fighters. However, questions have been raised about the destruction of buildings seemingly under the IDF’s direct control, such as Israa University in northern Gaza, which was initially severely damaged and then entirely destroyed in what appeared to be a coordinated explosion. The IDF claims the approval process for the detonation is currently under investigation.

Many of Gaza’s historical sites, including the Al-Omari Mosque built in the 7th Century, have suffered significant damage. Scher expressed that the destruction of religious sites in Gaza is unparalleled in comparison to other war zones he has studied, citing the astonishing scale and speed of the damage.

Agricultural farms also devastated

Further investigation revealed extensive damage to formerly farmed land in Gaza, impacting the region’s food production. Despite Gaza’s reliance on imports, a significant portion of its food came from local farming. Aid groups warn that now half of Gaza’s population is at risk of starvation.

Farms faced devastation by the IDF. Large areas in Gaza’s north and center, where agriculture was prominent, show damage associated with Israeli defence installations and earth banks.

The BBC report also highlighted the challenges faced by farmers, even those whose lands were not directly impacted, due to lost crops. The fear is that the damage to Gaza’s agriculture may be permanent, as seen in previous conflicts in Syria and Ukraine.

Aid workers are concerned about the difficulties in restoring farmlands, including the risks from unexploded munitions and the need for cleanup and reconstruction of infrastructure. Satellite images from December 3 to January 14 indicate a drastic change, with undeveloped plots in northwestern Rafah transformed into sanctuaries for displaced Palestinians following Israel’s campaign against Hamas. Many Palestinians from north and central Gaza sought refuge in Rafah, facing an uncertain future.