Israeli Strikes Level Dozens of Gaza City Buildings as IDF Claims Control of 40% of the City
New satellite images reveal widespread destruction across Gaza City, with Israel intensifying its offensive and displacing hundreds of thousands.
Satellite images reviewed by BBC Verify show that Israeli airstrikes and demolitions have destroyed dozens of buildings across Gaza City, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say they now control around 40% of the city.
The images, captured over the past month, reveal entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble following heavy bombardments and controlled demolitions. Rows of makeshift tents that had sheltered displaced Palestinians have also disappeared.
Escalating Conflict and Mounting Casualties
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s intention to seize the entire Gaza Strip after ceasefire and hostage release talks with Hamas collapsed in July. UN officials have warned that the humanitarian impact of a full-scale offensive would be “beyond catastrophic.”
In recent weeks, strikes in Gaza City have intensified. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, dozens of Palestinians were killed this week alone.
Evidence of Widespread Demolition
Satellite images show significant destruction in Sheikh Radwan, Zeitoun, and Tuffah. In Sheikh Radwan, buildings and trees have been completely wiped out, with tracks from Israeli armored vehicles cutting through the area. In nearby Jabalia, verified footage shows dozens of high-rise buildings being demolished.
In Zeitoun, clusters of IDF armored vehicles were spotted between 1 and 2 September. Within 24 hours, dozens of buildings in their vicinity were destroyed. By 4 September, the vehicles had moved on, leaving further devastation behind.
Tents housing displaced families in Zeitoun have also vanished, with surrounding high-rises flattened. According to the UN, nearly 1.9 million people — about 90% of Gaza’s population — have been displaced since the war began.
In the Tuffah neighborhood, where strikes killed at least eight people on Thursday, satellite images confirm the destruction of homes, schools, and even a cemetery containing graves of soldiers from World War I.
IDF Justification
The IDF told BBC Verify that Hamas had embedded “terror infrastructures” within residential areas, using homes and public buildings as command centers, weapons depots, and ambush points. They argue that this has forced Israel to target entire neighborhoods.
Stalled Ceasefire and Hostage Talks
Last month, Hamas said it accepted a plan brokered by Qatar and Egypt involving the release of 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others during a 60-day truce, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Israel has not agreed to the deal, insisting all hostages must be released simultaneously.
Human Cost of the War
The conflict began after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Since then, at least 64,231 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
As the IDF pushes deeper into Gaza City, the humanitarian crisis continues to grow, with displacement, infrastructure collapse, and civilian casualties mounting at alarming levels.