Following a period of intense conflict between Israel and Hamas, Gaza City, a densely populated urban centre, has once again found itself amid the destruction. The most recent round of violence has had a profound impact on the city, causing widespread devastation, needless loss of lives, and significant infrastructure damage.
Historical Background: Origin of Conflicts
The Israel-Hamas conflict is a tale of the State of Israel. This decades-long feud traces its roots back to the establishment of Israel in 1948 when tensions started brewing between Jews and Arabs over land rights. Fast forward to today, and Gaza City finds itself at the centre of this ongoing struggle.
As if things weren’t already tense enough, recent events have taken this conflict to new heights. For years, there has been sporadic violence between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group ruling Gaza. But on Saturday, October 7, things took a turn for the worse. A series of clashes and rocket attacks led to an all-out war between the two sides, and unfortunately, it’s the innocent residents of Gaza City who are suffering the consequences.
Reports from health officials in Gaza say at least 21,000 people have been killed since October 7, with more than 1,000 still missing or buried in rubble.
Israel launched a war on Gaza after Hamas-led militants invaded Southern Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,200 men, women and children and taking another 240 more as hostages.
Death Toll So Far
In the past few weeks, Israeli airstrikes have killed about 200 doctors, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and the Committee to Protect Journalists put the number of journalists killed at 42. Of those, 37 are Palestinians, 4 are Israelis, and 1 is Lebanese. The ministry on January 4 further said death toll hits 22,38.
The downtown area, in addition to the loss of lives, bears the marks of intense battles during the Israel-Hamas war, with extensive damage that has transformed many streets beyond recognition.
Emerging as a focal point in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, central Gaza City became an early and prominent target during the Israeli ground incursion into the territory. The aftermath has resulted in the destruction of the majority of its buildings, either significantly damaged or completely razed to the ground. The streets are now strewn with debris, narrating the tale of the intense battles that transpired.
The ongoing conflict has inflicted profound wounds on the physical and human infrastructure of Gaza City