In brief
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City have reportedly demolished dozens of buildings, with significant damage observed in multiple neighborhoods. As the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claim control over large parts of the city, humanitarian concerns rise amid warnings about potential catastrophic consequences. Recent violence has led to the displacement of millions of Gazans, and the IDF asserts that the actions target Hamas infrastructure. Despite ongoing diplomatic negotiations for a ceasefire, military operations intensify, raising fears for civilian safety.
Israeli strikes and demolitions have destroyed dozens of buildings in areas of Gaza City, satellite images show, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its offensive has established control over 40% of the city.
The new images reviewed by BBC Verify show that intensive bombardments and controlled explosions have leveled several neighborhoods over the past four weeks.
Rows of tents - which have sprung up over the city to shelter Palestinians displaced by the Israeli military campaign - have also disappeared over the past month, the images show.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel's intention to seize all of the strip and launch an incursion into Gaza City after indirect talks with Hamas on a ceasefire and hostage release deal broke down in July.
UN humanitarian officials have warned that the impact of a full-blown offensive would be beyond catastrophic. Strikes have intensified in areas of Gaza City in recent weeks, and dozens of Palestinians have been killed in attacks this week alone, according to the Hamas-run health ministry and civil defense agency.
Satellite images show that significant damage has already occurred in Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan, Zeitoun, and Tuffah neighborhoods in recent weeks. The photos indicate that dozens of buildings in the city were leveled between August and September.
In a statement to BBC Verify, the IDF said it was 'locating and destroying terror infrastructures embedded, among other things, inside buildings'.
In Sheikh Radwan - a neighborhood located about three kilometers from Gaza City center - several buildings have been wiped away. BBC Verify previously geolocated footage of strikes carried out by the IDF to the area.
Furthermore, in the Zeitoun neighborhood, images depict clusters of IDF armored vehicles. In just a 24-hour period between 1 and 2 September, numerous structures which stood between the armored vehicles have been demolished.
By 4 September, the armored vehicles had moved on, and further damage was inflicted on the buildings in the area. Displaced Palestinians' tents have also disappeared, with more than 1.9 million Gazans now displaced by the Israeli military campaign according to the UN.
The IDF asserts that entire neighborhoods in the Gaza Strip are converted into combat complexes used for various military purposes, while Hamas has indicated a willingness to negotiate exchanges involving hostages, although no concrete resolutions have been reached.
The conflict has caused immense suffering, with at least 64,231 people reported killed in Israeli attacks since the beginning of military operations following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, which resulted in significant casualties for both sides. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen with each passing day.
