Gaza’s Landscape Transformed by Three Years of War

Gaza’s Landscape Transformed by Three Years of War

Photos from Al Jazeera show that more than 80 percent of Gaza City’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed since Israel launched its war on the enclave in October 2023, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. The images contrast archive shots of familiar streets, markets and public buildings with new photographs taken three years into the conflict, revealing how neighborhoods have been turned into rubble and how historic landmarks have been altered or erased.

UNESCO has verified damage to 164 cultural sites in Gaza since October 2023, including 128 buildings of historical or artistic interest, 14 religious sites, nine monuments, eight archaeological sites, two museums and three depositories of movable cultural property. Among the most affected are the Great Omari Mosque, Gaza’s oldest mosque, Qasr al-Basha, the ancient Samaritan Bathhouse, al-Qissariya Market and the Church of Saint Porphyrius complex. Some of these places have been reduced to ruins, while others remain standing but heavily damaged.

The war has also devastated Gaza’s port and surrounding coastline, turning the area into a crowded shelter for displaced Palestinians. Al-Rashid Street, once lined with cafés and hotels, now hosts tents. Cultural venues such as the Rashad al-Shawwa Cultural Centre and the Islamic University of Gaza have been heavily damaged, with parts of the buildings destroyed and the surrounding areas in ruins.

Historic sites such as Qasr al-Basha, a 13th-century Mamluk palace turned archaeological museum, and the Great Omari Mosque, which suffered heavy damage in December 2023, now lie in ruins. The mosque’s historic minaret is among the damaged structures. Yarmouk Stadium, once a major sporting venue, has been repurposed as a shelter for displaced Palestinians.

The extensive destruction of infrastructure and cultural heritage complicates reconstruction efforts and raises questions about future accountability and preservation of Gaza’s historical legacy.