UPDATE: New drone footage captured over Gaza City highlights the staggering devastation two years of war has inflicted, as the region observes its second day of a fragile ceasefire. The video, taken by the Associated Press on Saturday, starkly displays the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, where only a few buildings remain intact amid vast piles of rubble.
The scene is haunting—streets covered in concrete dust and vehicles partially buried under debris. Few residents are seen venturing out, yet tens of thousands of Palestinians are returning to what little remains of their homes. Many are grappling with the shocking reality of destruction. “We did not expect this magnitude of destruction,” said local resident Farah Saleh. Another resident, Shreen Aboul Yakhni, lamented, “We are returning to no homes and no shelter for our kids, and winter is approaching.”
As the ceasefire holds, the full extent of the devastation is becoming clearer. The United Nations Satellite Center reported that by late September, a staggering 83% of structures in Gaza City were either destroyed or damaged. Earlier estimates indicated that around 78% of structures across the entire Gaza Strip had suffered similar fates by July.
The new footage underscores the monumental challenge ahead. The United Nations Environment Program estimates that approximately 61 million tons of debris need clearing—equivalent to the weight of 25 Eiffel Towers. Additionally, Gaza’s agricultural landscape has been devastated, with 97% of tree crops, 95% of shrubs, and 82% of annual crops reported as gone.
Rebuilding efforts will require a staggering $50 billion, according to the World Bank. With over 2 million Palestinians left to navigate this desolation, hopes for recovery hinge on international support and humanitarian aid, starting with the essentials needed for survival—“one blanket or beam at a time.”
As the world watches, the urgent need for aid and reconstruction grows. What will happen next in this ongoing crisis remains to be seen, but the resilience of Gaza’s residents is evident as they begin to confront the harsh reality of their shattered city.
