In recent years, Palestinians in Gaza have endured continuous airstrikes, severe food shortages, and repeated displacement due to ongoing Israeli military actions in the region.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 67,000 Palestinians and left nearly 170,000 seriously injured, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry. The violence escalated following an attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant casualties and hostages taken, according to Israeli sources.
Despite efforts to initiate peace talks based on the U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan, airstrikes persisted in Gaza over the weekend, just before the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks.
Various maps and statistics depict the extensive damage, Israel’s dominance over the area, and the high death toll after 731 days of conflict.
Destruction
As of October 2, approximately 60% of structures in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged since October 12, 2023, based on satellite imagery analysis by researchers at Oregon State University.
This marks a significant rise from around 13% in November 2023, shortly after the Israeli offensive began in Gaza.
The most affected region remains Gaza City and its surrounding governorate, with about 74% of buildings damaged or destroyed in the conflict, including additional structures targeted and demolished in Israel’s recent offensive in Gaza City.
In contrast, the United Nations estimates that roughly 78% of all structures in the Gaza Strip were impacted by destruction or damage as of July 8.
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres characterized Israel’s actions in Gaza City as “systematic destruction.”
Displacement
Following the initial devastation on October 7, 2023, around a million Palestinians returned to Gaza City during a temporary ceasefire from January 19 to March 1, despite the ruins. However, in the recent offensive by Israel, approximately 400,000 Palestinians were compelled to flee Gaza City last month, with many remaining due to lack of resources and options for escape.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced, with escalating numbers since early September, particularly after IDF operations targeting tall buildings.
Among those forced to leave Gaza City is Murad Banat, 50, who lost his homes and shop to Israeli military actions before seeking refuge in Deir al-Balah.
Islam Atallah, 32, also fled Gaza City with his family, facing hardships during their journey to Deir al-Balah.
Reports from the UN highlight the deliberate targeting of Gaza’s healthcare system by Israel, with severe consequences for medical care in the region.
The ongoing bombardment has resulted in a massive volume of debris, estimated to be 14 times higher than in previous conflicts over the past 16 years, according to a UN assessment.
The Gaza Strip remains predominantly under Israeli military control as of October.
Deaths
According to the OHCHR, as of July 15, nearly half of the total Palestinian casualties in Gaza, amounting to 67,160, were women and children.
Recent findings by the UN Commission suggest that the scale of killings in Gaza supports claims of genocide by Israel in the region.
Experts believe that the reported death toll may be underestimated, with suggestions that the actual number could be significantly higher, as indicated by a study published in The Lancet.
