GHLands : Recent satellite imagery updates on Google Maps have revealed the scale of the dramatic changes that have reshaped the urban landscape of the Gaza Strip after nearly three years of war. Residents can now view large areas of the territory and compare their current appearance with how they looked before the destruction.
Following a period in which recent imagery of Gaza was limited, the latest updates have made it possible to view areas stretching from Gaza City to Khan Younis and Rafah in the south, while some parts of northern Gaza remain less visibly updated.
82% of Gaza’s Buildings Have Been Damaged
According to the latest assessment by the United Nations Satellite Centre, UNOSAT, based on satellite imagery captured on June 16, 2026, approximately 201,290 buildings and structures across the Gaza Strip have sustained varying levels of damage, representing nearly 82% of all buildings and structures in the territory.
The assessment classified around 134,422 buildings as destroyed, while 13,848 were severely damaged, 28,096 sustained moderate damage, and approximately 24,924 were identified as potentially damaged.
The assessment also showed that the number of buildings classified as destroyed increased by around 9% compared with the October 2025 assessment, while the overall number of damaged buildings rose by approximately 1.5%.
Rafah Neighborhoods Reduced to Vast Areas of Rubble
Recent imagery shows extensive changes across the southern city of Rafah, where the physical character of several neighborhoods that once contained residential communities and shelters for displaced families has been dramatically altered.
Tel al-Sultan is among the areas that have undergone major urban transformation, with large sections reduced to rubble and open ground following military operations. Many residents were forced to flee once again toward other areas, including Al-Mawasi and Deir al-Balah.
The images also show a significant transformation in Al-Mawasi, an area that was previously known for its agricultural character. Large parts of the area are now occupied by tents and temporary settlements housing displaced families.
Khan Younis Faces Extensive Urban Destruction
In Khan Younis, satellite imagery reveals widespread destruction affecting entire neighborhoods and major roads, with large portions of the urban landscape either erased or replaced by extensive fields of rubble.
In some areas, the scale of destruction has made it difficult to identify former streets and residential buildings when compared with satellite images taken before the war.
Satellite data also indicate that Khan Younis Governorate contains large numbers of damaged and destroyed buildings, alongside severe destruction recorded in both Gaza and North Gaza governorates.
Gaza Port Loses Much of Its Former Landscape
The destruction has also affected Gaza Port and its surrounding area, where satellite images show that several landmarks and facilities that once characterized the site have disappeared or sustained significant damage.
Parts of the area have also become locations for tents and temporary shelters used by displaced residents.
The latest satellite imagery provides visual documentation of the extensive transformation of Gaza’s urban environment, particularly at a time when access to many affected areas remains difficult and field assessments are still limited.
Casualty Figures Continue to Rise
According to figures reported on September 30, 2026, the number of Palestinians killed since the beginning of the war has reached 74,032, while the number of injured has risen to 175,142.
The same figures indicate that since the ceasefire came into effect in October 2025, approximately 1,431 people have been killed and 5,026 others injured, while the bodies of 834 people have been recovered during the same period.
The scale of destruction visible in satellite imagery highlights part of the extensive impact the war has had on Gaza’s built environment and civilian infrastructure, while assessment and documentation efforts continue as new satellite and field data become available.
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