Gaza’s healthcare system – already struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic – was further burdened by caring for those injured by air and artillery strikes during recent hostilities with Israel.
In the first comprehensive tally of the destruction caused by the 11-day conflict which ended in a ceasefire May 21, Reuters analysis of data from the United Nations Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) reveals that the impact could be even greater, with 11% of Gaza’s health facilities within 100 metres of damaged and destroyed buildings.
The hostilities led to growing fears of a surge in Covid cases, with many people displaced by bombings crowding together for shelter.
18 hospitals or health centres
within 100 metres of damaged buildings or
impact craters from airstrikes
Jabalia
Gaza City
GAZA
Mediterranean
Sea
Khan Yunis
ISRAEL
18 hospitals or health centres
within 100 metres of damaged buildings or
impact craters from airstrikes
Jabalia
Gaza City
Mediterranean Sea
GAZA
ISRAEL
Khan Yunis
18 hospitals or health centres
within 100 metres of damaged buildings or
impact craters from airstrikes
Jabalia
Gaza City
GAZA
Mediterranean Sea
ISRAEL
Khan Yunis
EGYPT
18 hospitals or health centres
within 100 metres of damaged buildings or
impact craters from airstrikes
Jabalia
Gaza City
GAZA
Mediterranean Sea
ISRAEL
Khan Yunis
EGYPT
18 hospitals or health centres
within 100 metres of damaged buildings or
impact craters from airstrikes
Jabalia
Gaza City
GAZA
Mediterranean Sea
ISRAEL
Khan Yunis
EGYPT
UNOSAT analysis reveals 40 craters were visible on roads, likely to hinder ambulance access and medical supplies.
Tracking the spread of the coronavirus in such a densely populated area was made more difficult by damage inflicted to Gaza’s main testing laboratory
Nearby, Israel destroyed the 12-storey al-Jalaa tower block in Gaza housing the offices of the U.S.-based Associated Press and other news media.
The Israeli military said it destroyed the building on May 15 because Hamas was using part of the building for intelligence R&D and to carry out signals intelligence and electronic warfare operations, one of whose goals was to disrupt Israel’s Iron Dome aerial missile defense system.
Destroyed and
damaged buildings
Covid testing
site damaged
al-Jalaa tower
destroyed
Gaza City
Schools and health facilities
Destroyed and
damaged buildings
Covid testing
site damaged
al-Jalaa tower
block destroyed
Gaza City
Schools and health facilities
Covid testing
site damaged
Destroyed and
damaged buildings
al-Jalaa tower block
destroyed
Gaza City
Schools and health facilities
Covid testing site damaged
Destroyed and
damaged buildings
al-Jalaa tower block destroyed
Gaza City
Schools and health facilities
Israel launched its recent offensive after Hamas fired rockets at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv following an increase in tensions, including Israeli police clashes with Palestinians near Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.
Israel said Hamas and other militant groups fired around 4,350 rockets from Gaza, of which around 640 fell short into the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military said that 90% of those that crossed the border were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system.
Reuters analysis of UNOSAT data shows that 52 schools were within 100 metres of airstrike damage or destruction.
52 schools
within 100 metres of damaged buildings or impact craters from airstrikes
Jabalia
Gaza City
GAZA
Mediterranean
Sea
Khan Yunis
ISRAEL
52 schools
within 100 metres of damaged buildings or
impact craters from airstrikes
Jabalia
Gaza City
Mediterranean Sea
GAZA
ISRAEL
Khan Yunis
52 schools
within 100 metres of damaged buildings or
impact craters from airstrikes
Jabalia
Gaza City
GAZA
Mediterranean Sea
ISRAEL
Khan Yunis
EGYPT
52 schools
within 100 metres of damaged buildings or
impact craters from airstrikes
Jabalia
Gaza City
GAZA
Mediterranean Sea
ISRAEL
Khan Yunis
EGYPT
52 schools
within 100 metres of damaged buildings or
impact craters from airstrikes
Jabalia
Gaza City
GAZA
Mediterranean Sea
ISRAEL
Khan Yunis
EGYPT
One Israeli soldier was killed and 12 civilians, including two children. Hundreds were treated for injuries after the rocket salvoes caused panic and sent millions fleeing for shelters as far away as Tel Aviv.
Recent Israeli strikes in Gaza killed 66 children – 26% of all fatalities – and injured 600 more according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). During the hostilities, education was suspended for 600,000.
66 children killed
63 of those seemingly
by Israeli Defense Forces
190 adults killed
182 of those seemingly
by Israeli Defense Forces
66 children killed
63 of those seemingly
by Israeli Defense Forces
190 adults killed
182 of those seemingly
by Israeli Defense Forces
66 children killed
63 of those seemingly
by Israeli Defense Forces
190 adults killed
182 of those seemingly
by Israeli Defense Forces
551 children – 25% of all Palestinian fatalities – were killed in 2014 when Israel launched Operation Protective Edge after Hamas’ kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers.
Damage across Gaza
Reuters analysis of UNOSAT’s damage assessment.
Based on a May 28 satellite image
Impact crater in field
1,144
Possible damage
249
Damaged buildings
244
Destroyed buildings
242
Impact crater on road
40
Damage across Gaza
Reuters analysis of UNOSAT’s damage assessment.
Based on a May 28 satellite image
Impact crater in field
1,144
Possible damage
249
Damaged buildings
244
Destroyed buildings
242
Impact crater on road
40
Damage across Gaza
Reuters analysis of UNOSAT’s damage assessment. Based on a May 28 satellite image
Impact crater in field
1,144
Possible damage
249
Damaged buildings
244
Destroyed buildings
242
Impact crater on road
40
Although the latest unrest in Jerusalem was the immediate trigger for hostilities, Palestinians are frustrated by setbacks to their aspirations for an independent state in recent years, including Washington’s recognition of disputed Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Israel says it strikes only sites it deems military targets used by militants and that it regularly issues prior warnings to evacuate buildings it sees as legitimate targets as part of wider efforts to avoid civilian casualties.
Note
UNOSAT preliminary analysis based on a May 28 satellite image and not yet validated in the field
Sources
United Nations Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT); Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); healsites.io; Mapcreator