World · Middle East · 15 hrs ago
More than 90% of Rafah’s buildings have been destroyed
Rafah, a city in southern Gaza near the Egyptian border, has lost more than 90% of its buildings.
Before the war, about 200,000 people lived there, and many Palestinians from elsewhere in Gaza later sought shelter in the city.
Israel began a ground offensive in Rafah in May 2024, after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Bombing and demolitions destroyed buildings and drove most residents from the city.
Satellite images show that destruction continued even after a fragile ceasefire began in October 2025.
Many displaced people are now sheltering in crowded tent camps near the coast, where the UN says approaching seasonal rains could cause flooding.
More than 90 percent of buildings in Rafah have been destroyed, according to the article.
Satellite images from October 2026 show further destruction since images taken in February.
Israel launched a ground offensive in Rafah in May 2024, after hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had sought shelter there.
Most residents were displaced, with many fleeing to the coast.
The UN satellite service estimated in August that destruction across Gaza had increased since the October 2025 ceasefire began.
- Who
- Buildings in Rafah have been destroyed during the Israeli military offensive.
- What
- More than 90 percent of the city's buildings have been destroyed, and demolition continues.
- When
- The ground offensive began in May 2024; satellite images show destruction through October 2026.
- Where
- Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip near the border with Egypt.
- Why
- The destruction occurred during Israel's military offensive in Gaza. The sources do not state a specific reason for the destruction of individual buildings.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Rafah was a Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip.
Hamas carried out an attack, after which the Israeli army began a large-scale offensive in Gaza.
The Israeli army began a ground offensive in Rafah.
A fragile ceasefire began in Gaza.
The UN satellite service estimated that the number of destroyed buildings in Gaza had risen by 9 percent since the ceasefire began.
Satellite images of Rafah were taken, showing extensive destruction.
Planet satellite images showed further demolition and more rubble in Rafah.
- Destroyed buildings in Rafah
- More than 90 percent
- Rafah population before the war
- Around 200,000
- Ground offensive in Rafah began
- May 2024
- Ceasefire began
- October 2025
- Increase in destroyed Gaza buildings since ceasefire
- 9 percent, estimated in August
- Satellite imagery date
- 25 February 2026
Sources
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