Assessment of Gaza Strip Damage by UNOSAT
The United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) recently released an updated assessment of the Gaza Strip, revealing the extensive damage to buildings in the region due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
War Between Israel and Hamas
The war between Israel and Hamas escalated when the Islamist group initiated an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians. In response, Israel launched a massive military offensive in Gaza with the aim of eliminating Hamas, leading to the deaths of over 31,000 Palestinians.
Satellite Image Assessment
UNOSAT conducted an analysis based on very high-resolution satellite imagery collected on February 29, 2024, revealing that 35% of structures in the Gaza Strip have been damaged since the conflict began. This represents a significant increase in destruction compared to previous assessments.
The assessment compared images from various dates in 2023 and early 2024, identifying a total of 88,868 damaged structures. Among these, 31,198 structures were destroyed, 16,908 severely damaged, and 40,762 moderately damaged.
The governorates of Khan Yunis and Gaza experienced the most significant rise in damage, with Khan Yunis seeing 12,279 additional damaged structures and Gaza experiencing 2,010. Khan Yunis City alone witnessed 6,663 newly destroyed structures.
UNOSAT’s report estimates that a total of 121,400 housing units have been impacted by the destruction in the Gaza Strip.
