Google Earth has updated its images to show the extent of the massive destruction in the Gaza Strip, where vast areas have turned into rubble.
The Israeli war on Gaza has resulted in damage and destruction to the majority of homes, hospitals, schools, and buildings in this 141-square-mile territory, which is widely considered one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
Israel has not allowed foreign journalists, independent investigators, or many human rights organizations to enter the region, while reporters described the scene as "burnt ruins of cities that were once bustling with life," leaving Gaza submerged in "ashes and destruction," according to the British newspaper The Independent.
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories commented on the recent images, saying: "Look at the unprecedented scale of destruction that the world has allowed Israel - an apartheid state - to commit and escape consequences in Gaza. Know that the killing machine in that devastated (ghetto) is still operating at full capacity. Shame on us."
Barry Andrews, a member of the European Parliament from Dublin, wrote: "The updated satellite images of Gaza via Google are hard to believe, and they are available for everyone to see…”
In a related context, Chris Doyle, director of the British Arab Chamber of Commerce, stated to Newsweek yesterday (Monday), “Google images are further evidence of the systematic destruction inflicted on the Gaza Strip, where at least 82 percent of its buildings have been destroyed or damaged.” He added: "These images have shocked the world for years, and the question now is: When will they lead to a change in the positions of leading figures, foremost among them the United States?"
In this context, Nathan Rosser, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, wrote on the platform X that these images "reveal the reality of Gaza with horrifying and shocking accuracy."
A UN report released last week concluded that Gaza is facing its worst economic crisis in history; the report indicated that 90 percent of Palestinians of working age are unemployed, and per capita annual GDP has plummeted to $212 (equivalent to $0.58 daily).
Palestinians now only have access to 1.5 percent of arable land, while agricultural and industrial activities have declined by 94 percent.
Estimates indicate that there are 60 million tons of rubble scattered across the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli bombardment that has affected various parts of the region.
Experts believe that clearing this rubble could take decades; however, the task could be accomplished within seven years if the necessary resources are provided.
The World Health Organization estimates that 90 percent of hospitals have been damaged or destroyed. According to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOSAT), about 82 percent of all buildings and more than 90 percent of residential units have been affected or destroyed.
The forensic evidence team in Gaza stated to The Independent earlier this year that the absence of DNA testing has hindered the identification of hundreds of bodies; at least 1,129 bodies have been retrieved from the rubble without being able to identify their owners.
Meanwhile, nearly all residents remain homeless, with some living amid the ruins of collapsed buildings.
The number of Palestinian deaths due to the Israeli war, which is nearing its third year, has surpassed 74,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry stated that 1,145 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began.
An investigation by CBC News revealed satellite images showing Israel collecting and removing debris and waste from the Gaza Strip – materials that may contain human remains and potential evidence of war crimes – at multiple sites.
A UN expert warned that the debris removal operations carried out by Israel could lead to the obliteration of evidence of the atrocities committed.