Gaza’s Landscape Resembles a Lunar Terrain, Raising Concerns About Its Future Habitability Post-War

Israel’s military operations have drastically transformed much of northern Gaza into a desolate landscape, akin to a lunar surface. Entire neighborhoods have vanished, with homes, schools, and hospitals demolished by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. While some structures still stand, they are largely hollowed-out remnants.

The conflict has driven nearly a million Palestinians from their homes, including those in Gaza City, the region’s urban center. The war’s conclusion will bring little solace as these displaced families confront the enormity of the devastation and grapple with questions about their future living arrangements and governance.

Yousef Hammash, an aid worker, expressed a desperate desire to return home, despite the destruction, but remained pessimistic about his children’s future in the area.

Israel’s strategy of using heavy ordnance in densely populated residential zones has resulted in over 13,000 Palestinian casualties and extensive ruin. Israel defends these actions as necessary due to Hamas’s alleged use of civilian areas for military purposes, a claim Hamas denies, accusing Israel instead of indiscriminately targeting civilians.

Mahmoud Jamal, a taxi driver, recounted the unrecognizable state of his hometown Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, likening damaged buildings to open-air parking structures.

According to Emily Tripp, director of Airwars, Israel’s aerial bombardment in this conflict has been one of the most intense since World War II. The U.N. describes it as the deadliest urban campaign since that time.

The conflict has rendered northern Gaza akin to a ghost town, as observed by Mkhaimer Abusada, a political scientist. Analysis of satellite data indicates significant damage to roughly half of the buildings in northern Gaza. The U.N. estimates that 1.7 million people are now homeless, leading to concerns about the region’s potential recovery.

Raphael Cohen of RAND Corporation predicts long-term displacement for many residents. The war has also severely impacted essential infrastructure, including the majority of Gaza’s hospitals, according to the World Health Organization. The destruction extends to critical facilities like bakeries, grain mills, and water and sanitation systems.

The U.N. reports that over 41,000 homes in Gaza are uninhabitable. Mohammed al-Hadad, a party planner, described his harrowing departure from Shati refugee camp, a heavily damaged area.

While southern Gaza has been relatively spared, recent satellite data indicates increased destruction in Khan Younis, raising alarm among residents.

The ceasefire has provided some respite, but displaced Palestinians feel the duration is insufficient. The devastation has drawn parallels to the “nakba” of 1948, a term Palestinians use to describe their mass displacement during the war that led to Israel’s creation.

Reconstruction efforts in Gaza have been slow and incomplete since the 2014 conflict. The recent destruction, far more extensive, presents an enormous challenge. The question of who will spearhead the reconstruction remains unresolved. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu focuses on security restoration, while U.S. officials suggest the Palestinian Authority might take charge, a prospect President Mahmoud Abbas dismisses without progress toward a two-state solution.

Despite the grim situation, there are hopes for a future Gaza with improved living conditions and infrastructure. However, Palestinians emphasize that the rebuilding must extend beyond physical structures to address a society deeply scarred by trauma and loss.