Gaza Strip Devastation: Unveiling the Extent of Destruction

As residents of the Gaza Strip return to their hometowns, they are often greeted by nothing but rubble. The extensive damage across the region has been documented through a joint analysis by ARD Studio Tel Aviv and BR data journalists, revealing a grim picture of the aftermath.

The ground reality is heart-wrenching. Residents are digging through debris with bare hands searching for missing loved ones, personal documents, and keepsakes—items that represent their identity and dignity. Since the ceasefire, people have dared to return to what used to be their homes before the conflict turned them into refugees in their own land.

Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, recently visited the Gaza Strip and described the scene as resembling the aftermath of an atomic bomb, as reported on the CBS show 60 Minutes. He observed ruins everywhere, yet noted that people were returning to their devastated homes.

Widespread Damage Assessment

A detailed study by BR Data and the ARD-Studio Tel Aviv has utilized satellite data from Vertical 52 to evaluate the extent of the destruction. This analysis, based on radar data that regularly captured images of the earth’s surface regardless of weather conditions or time of day, has documented approximately 325,000 buildings in the Gaza Strip from the outbreak of the conflict in October 2023 to September of this year.

The findings are stark: at least 70% of all buildings have sustained damage. In densely populated areas like Gaza City, the damage reaches around 85%, and in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, about 80%.

Rapid Destruction Over Months

The city of Rafah, particularly, saw extensive damage during an Israeli military offensive that spanned several months in 2024. From May to September of that year alone, about 40% of the buildings were damaged.

Comparisons of satellite images pre and post-conflict reveal significant environmental impacts as well. Previously green areas in the north and east of the coastal strip are now barren, scorched by the war machinery.

The satellite imagery of Gaza’s port area also confirms extensive destruction of buildings and infrastructure. Before the conflict, this area was densely populated and featured numerous recreational facilities frequented by families. Current images depict a desolate landscape, with only a few buildings left standing and significant damage visible around the port installations.

Debris Comparison

United Nations experts estimate that there are currently 55 million tons of rubble in the Gaza Strip. “This is equivalent to 13 Pyramids of Giza, just to give you an idea of the scale of the challenge,” states Jaco Cilliers from the UN Development Programme (UNDP). He emphasized that rebuilding the infrastructure can only commence once all the debris has been cleared.

The cost of reconstruction remains uncertain, though UN experts had initially estimated it at just over 50 billion US dollars earlier in the spring. That figure is likely to have increased significantly by now.