Gaza Strip: Then and Now: A Look from Space

Ever wondered how a war zone looks from space? Satellite images of the Gaza Strip are painting a grim picture. This small coastal territory, about the size of New York City, has been hit hard by the Israel-Hamas conflict. You might be shocked to see how much has changed. Before the war, Gaza was a densely populated place with hopes of becoming part of a future Palestinian state. But now, it's a different story. buildings in Gaza City have been reduced to rubble, and roads are filled with debris. It's like a city that's been through a terrible storm, but this storm was man-made. One interesting thing you might notice is a new buffer zone along the border. Israel wants this area, despite international objections. This zone takes up a chunk of Gaza's land, around 60 square kilometers. That's like cutting off a small piece of Manhattan from the rest of New York. But wait, there's more. As the war went on, people were told to move south. In Muwasi, near the border with Egypt, thousands of tents now cover the sandy coast and farmland. It's like a giant campground, visible from space. These satellite images aren't just for show. They help experts figure out how bad the damage really is. Two researchers, Corey Scher and Jamon Van Den Hoek, have been studying Gaza since the war started in October 2023. They say about 60% of all buildings in Gaza have been damaged. That's a lot of homes, schools, and hospitals that need fixing. The United Nations, too, has been looking at these images. They think around 69% of structures in Gaza have been damaged. That's even more than what the researchers said. This war has been brutal, with over 46, 000 people killed. And sadly, women and children make up more than half of those deaths. It's important to remember that these numbers aren't just statistics. They represent real people, real lives, and real homes that have been affected by this conflict.