Gaza Conflict Tracker

After a year of death, hunger, and suffering, the Palestinians are exhausted. Together with the NZZ, we have documented the senseless destruction one year after the start of the war.

Life in the Gaza Strip has never been carefree—but since October 7, it has become hell. Hamas fighters knew that Israel would retaliate with overwhelming force after they launched their attack and killed indiscriminately within the Jewish state. But that was part of their strategy. For Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, all dead civilians are “necessary sacrifices.” In internal communications, he claimed that these deaths would “infuse life into the veins of this nation.”

One year later, that “nation” lies in ruins. Israel struck back with unprecedented force. According to Hamas authorities, 41,000 people were killed in the Gaza Strip last year. That number cannot be independently verified. However, Israel has admitted that its airstrikes killed not only terrorists but also thousands of civilians.

This war, in which Hamas used civilians and civilian buildings as shields, has destroyed large parts of the coastal strip. Click on the graphic to see the destruction in detail.