Horrific satellite images of Gaza show the true devastation after Israel’s relentless airstrikes, as more than 1,000 starving people have died while trying to get food aid
Gaza’s population of more than two million Palestinians is in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the limited aid allowed into the territory.
Israel’s offensive has displaced some 90% of the population, with many forced to flee multiple times. Thousands of people have been forced from their homes in Gaza’s cities, after months of airstrikes and bombings.
Google Earth satellite images show the horrific devastation across the region, with thousands of buildings completely destroyed in Gaza’s main urban hubs.
Most of the food supplies Israel has allowed into Gaza go to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US group backed by Israel. Since its operations began in May, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in shootings by Israeli soldiers while heading to the sites, according to witnesses and health officials. The Israeli military says it has only fired warning shots at those who approach its forces.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health said 1,060 Palestinians have died while trying to access food supplies. Since the October 7 terror attack in Israel, at least 59,219 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, it said.
Israel’s 21 months of war with Hamas has pushed Gaza to the brink of famine, sparked worldwide protests and led to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
al-Shifa hospital, Gaza City
The hospital complex was once the biggest and most vital medical facility in the whole of the Gaza Strip.
It sits in the north-west part of Gaza City, close to the coastline, as well as Palestine Stadium; a national stadium that once had a 10,000 capacity.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has completeled two raids on the hospital, including a surpise campaign after claiming Hamas had regrouped at the medical facility.
It’s now a burned-down mess that “reeks of death”. Palestinian Civil Defence worker Rami Dababesh told BBC News: “We’ve extracted martyrs, many of whom are decomposed and completely unidentifiable.
“We’ve found corpses of women, children and individuals without heads as well as torn body parts.”
The UN Security Council expressed “deep concern” after finding mass graves at the al-Shifa and Nasser hospitals in Gaza. It sparked a major investigation into alleged war crimes committed by the IDF.
Al-Bayuk
Al-Bayuk is a Gazan village, toward the south of the Gaza Strip. It was previously part of Israel’s humanitarian zone, where thousnads of displaced Palestinians were forced to evacuate toward.
But, the latest satelitte images show Al-Bayuk is barely recognisable, without torn down buildings and a vast wasteland. The main road leading out of the village to the north appears almost completely gone.
Deir Al-Balah
The region of Deir Al-Balah was used as the main humanitarian hub for displaced Palestinians. It was largely previously untouched – compared with other regions – over fears that Hamas were holding hostages inside.
But Israel launched a huge air and ground operation on Deir Al-Balah just days ago. Tanks destroyed homes and mosques, and the World Health Organization’s own building was also attacked.
More than 1,000 people were injured in the operation over a 24-hour period, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that any extensive infrastructure damage to the region would “have life-threatening consequences”.
The agency’s local head, Jonathan Whittall posted on X after the campaign: “This death and suffering is preventable. And if it’s preventable, but still happening, then that suggests to me that it’s intentional.”
The satellite images from 2021 show a bustling neighbourhood, complete with a series of mosques and a big football pitch. But the most recent images show demolished buildings, eeries remains of a road network, and absolutely no sign that a football pitch existed at all.
Netzarim Corridor
The Netzarim Corridor was an Israeli military zone that separated the north and south of Gaza. It was characterised by huge numbers of Palestinians crossing the ‘border’ in order to reach the charred remains of their previous homes.
The IDF withdrew from the military zone earlier this year, after a ceasefire deal was agreed with Hamas.
“What we saw was a catastrophe, horrific destruction. The [Israeli] occupation destroyed all the homes, shops, farms, mosques, universities and the courthouse,” Osama Abu Kamil, a resident of al-Maghraqa just north of Netzarim, told the AFP news agency.
He planned to “set up a tent” for himself and his family, “next to the rubble of our house”.