How badly damaged is Gaza?

Not much remains of the Gaza Strip that once existed. Some cities that were home to tens of thousands of people before the war have effectively ceased to exist—such as Beit Hanun in the north or Rafah on the Egyptian border. Where apartment blocks once stood side by side, there is now a desert of rubble, deserted and devoid of life, with twisted metal beams protruding from the debris like skeletons. The Israeli army bombed, blew up, or demolished the houses with excavators and bulldozers.

According to UN estimates, reconstruction could take up to 80 years if it proceeds as slowly as it did after previous wars in Gaza. What is clear, however, is that the costs would be enormous. Estimates range from $53 billion to $133 billion.

There is no place in the coastal area that has been spared by the war. We have analyzed the destruction in Gaza: according to our findings, the war has destroyed or damaged more than 70 percent of all buildings in the Gaza Strip over the past two years.

Our analysis is based on radar data that has regularly recorded the Earth's surface, regardless of weather and time of day. Between the outbreak of war in October 2023 and September of this year, around 325,000 buildings in the Gaza Strip were recorded.

Looking at the once densely populated areas, the degree of destruction is even higher. In Gaza City, around 85 percent of all buildings have been damaged. In Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, the figure is around 80 percent.

In 2024, the city of Rafah was the scene of a months-long offensive by the Israeli army. According to an analysis by BR Data, around 40 percent of buildings were damaged between May and September of that year alone.

A comparison of satellite images of Gaza also dramatically illustrates the consequences of the war. Before the war began, green areas were clearly visible in the north and east of the coastal strip. Two years later, in September 2025, all greenery has withered or been destroyed by the Israeli war machine.

Satellite images of the port in Gaza City also show the extensive destruction of buildings and infrastructure. Until the war began, the area around the port and the beach promenade was densely populated. There were numerous leisure facilities along the promenade, which were mainly used by families.

The current satellite images show a kind of lunar landscape. Large parts of the area were razed to the ground during the war. Only a few intact buildings appear to still be standing. The port facilities also show significant damage.

The Tagesthemen, BR, WDR, and NZZ have reported on the results of our analysis.