Satellite Images Show 82% of Gaza Structures Damaged

Newly updated satellite imagery of the Gaza Strip, taken by Google in June 2026 and released online in late September, shows that about 82 percent of structures across the territory have been damaged, with roughly two-thirds of those destroyed, according to reporting that cross-references Google Earth imagery with United Nations damage assessments.¹²³⁵

Extent of the destruction

The imagery indicates that roughly 200,000 buildings across Gaza have sustained damage, with about two-thirds of those structures destroyed outright. The number of destroyed buildings rose by nine percent even after a ceasefire took hold.¹²³⁵

In a joint assessment, the World Bank, European Union and United Nations drew on 30cm-resolution satellite imagery and synthetic aperture radar to record how people, physical assets, infrastructure and services across Gaza have been affected. The UN Satellite Centre separately reported 201,290 damaged structures as of 16 June 2026, of which 134,422 were listed as destroyed and 13,848 as severely damaged.⁸⁴

Casualties and displacement

According to Gaza's health authorities, the death toll since the Israeli offensive began exceeds 74,000, a number repeated across several reports but challenged by at least one source.³⁴²

A UNRWA situation report tallies 73,231 Palestinian deaths and 173,686 injuries across Gaza over the period running from 7 October 2023 through 12 July 2026. Reporting suggests the true death toll is likely higher, because many people remain missing beneath rubble.⁹²⁵

Around 1.9 million people in Gaza have been displaced, and more than 60 percent of the population has lost its home. The Guardian reported that "More than 2.1 million displaced people are living in tents and temporary shelters in Gaza".⁷⁴¹

Gaza's population before the war stood at about 2.3 million, according to a single source, and most casualties are reported to be civilians. The Hamas-led attack of October 2023 killed about 1,200 people and took around 251 people hostage, with most of those casualties also civilians.¹³

City-by-city picture

No other area suffered more structural damage than Khan Younis, where 51,885 buildings were affected and the Indonesian Istiqlal Mosque was reduced to ruins less than two years after it had reopened.²⁵

Gaza governorate recorded 51,530 damaged structures, with 41,663 of these in Gaza City. The city's port, which once supported about 110,000 people, has been severely damaged. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization said "the port has been severely damaged and most of its fishing boats destroyed".²

Satellite images show Rafah almost entirely reduced to rubble, including the densely populated Tal as-Sultan neighbourhood, which appears wiped out. Roughly a million residents fled once Israeli military operations began in the city, and 7,112 newly damaged structures were logged in Rafah governorate between April and July 2025.¹²⁴

In North Gaza, 94 percent of cropland had been damaged by July 2025. Beit Lahiya, Jabalia and other communities endured repeated Israeli military operations, and Jabalia refugee camp—the biggest of Gaza's eight camps—was leveled, leaving whole blocks in ruins.²⁵

Rubble and reconstruction challenge

The total volume of rubble in Gaza is estimated at 61 million tonnes, according to a single source. Jaco Cilliers put the total volume of rubble in Gaza at 61 million tonnes. he noted that this is roughly 20 times the rubble produced by every war fought worldwide over the past 18 years.¹

Ceasefire and continuing strikes

A ceasefire took effect on 10 October 2025, halting the heaviest fighting, though Israeli strikes have continued in response to what Israel describes as threats and attacks.⁷

In the time since the ceasefire took effect, over 1,400 people have died and nearly 5,000 have been wounded. France 24 reported that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire and that Israeli strikes are continuing across the territory.²⁵⁶

Reactions

Irish MEP Barry Andrews, who posted the images on social media to millions of views, said "the updated Google satellite images of Gaza are quite incredible, for all to see". Analyst Nathan Ruser of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said the imagery "shows the reality of Gaza in shocking resolution". Chris Doyle remarked that imagery like this has been shocking global audiences for years. he added that the real question is whether such images will eventually alter the stance of major leaders, including the United States. Rebecca Wolfe observed that strike targets were frequently near critical infrastructure and civilians, adding that the difficulty lies in knowing this wasn't a matter of missing information. Israel very well understood the operating environment".⁷

Palestinian journalist Abubaker Abed, who left Gaza with his family, said: "I couldn't even bear continuing looking at that because seeing the place where I grew up, seeing the place where I was born, lined in ruins in that way was absolutely heart shattering". Critics have leveled war crimes accusations against Israel for how it has waged the campaign, a charge Israel rejects.⁴³