Photos: Gaza before and after – a city transformed by war | Gaza News
Gaza City – The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in significant devastation, with over 80 percent of the enclave’s buildings damaged or destroyed since the onset of hostilities in October 2023. This assessment comes from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and highlights the widespread destruction of neighborhoods and essential infrastructure.
For decades, Gaza’s streets, markets, schools, hospitals, and public spaces have served as vital components of daily life. These sites were instrumental for work, education, commerce, and social interaction, forming the backdrop of community life and shared experiences.
However, the war has severely impacted many of these familiar landmarks, many of which carry a rich historical significance. UNESCO reports that at least 164 cultural sites in Gaza have been verified as damaged since October 2023. This includes 128 buildings of historical or artistic importance, 14 religious sites, nine monuments, eight archaeological sites, two museums, and three repositories for movable cultural property.
Prominent sites affected by the conflict include 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 have been reduced to rubble, while others remain standing but are severely compromised.
The destruction has not only affected these individual landmarks but has also transformed the surrounding neighborhoods, erasing physical markers that once aided residents in navigating their city.
A recently published photo series offers a striking comparison between archival images of some of Gaza’s most recognizable streets, markets, and public buildings, juxtaposed with new photographs that depict the extent of the changes wrought by years of conflict and continual bombardment.
