Approximately half of the buildings in northern Gaza were damaged or destroyed during Israel’s offensive in response to the October 7 Hamas attack. Yasmine Abu Rujileh, 23, and Khalil Al Najjar, 26, who got married just a month before the conflict began, found their home in ruins, symbolizing the impact on many families. A data analysis reveals that around 50% of buildings in Gaza City and the north suffered damage or destruction, while in the south, particularly Khan Younis, the damage ranged from 10% to 15%. The analysis, based on imagery from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite, highlights the extensive devastation.
The death toll in Gaza during the seven-week offensive is reported to be over 15,000, with most casualties occurring in Israeli airstrikes. The physical devastation has left Gazans feeling that their familiar surroundings are disappearing. Landmarks like the Square of the Unknown Soldier, once a popular park, now lie in ruins, allegedly targeted by Israeli forces. A city library and the Rashad Shawa Cultural Center, hosting a theater and library, have also been destroyed. The destruction witnessed by News in northern Gaza reflects the severe impact on the region, with many residents displaced and facing a housing crisis, exacerbated by the approaching winter. The personal losses, such as Abu Rujileh and Al Najjar finding a red plastic candy box containing sweets from their wedding night in the debris, highlight the emotional toll of the conflict.
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