Israel-Hamas ceasefire: What’s left of Gaza and its people?

A ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is set to take effect on Sunday, January 19th. This follows an announcement on Wednesday by both sides to end Israel's 15-month-long destructive assault on the Gaza Strip. The three-stage agreement includes a temporary ceasefire, the release of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners, and the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes, although many homes in Gaza have been destroyed.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has caused the deaths of at least 46,707 Palestinians and injured 110,265, averaging 100 Palestinian deaths per day. The Gaza Strip has an estimated population of approximately 2.3 million, half of whom are children. The population has decreased by six percent since the start of the war. Over the past 15 months, Israel's attacks have resulted in 2 deaths and 5 injuries per 100 people in Gaza. About 11,160 people are missing, meaning one in every 200 Palestinians in Gaza is unaccounted for, with many buried under more than 42 million tons of rubble, and another 100,000 Palestinians have left Gaza.

According to an analysis by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek and Corey Scher, at least 60% of the buildings in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed. Approximately 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced, one of the highest displacement rates recorded in modern conflicts. Many people's communities have been completely destroyed, including essential services such as hospitals and educational facilities. Additionally, vital infrastructure like the health system and electricity services have collapsed. Some experts estimate that clearing Gaza’s 42 million tons of rubble will take at least a decade.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of January 14, half of Gaza’s 36 hospitals were partially functional, 88% of schools were damaged or destroyed, 92% of homes were damaged or destroyed, 68% of agricultural land was destroyed, and 68% of roads were destroyed. Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza within hours of Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack and began a ground invasion in northern Gaza, focusing on densely populated areas such as Beit Hanoun and Jabalia.

In the first month of the war, 15% of buildings were damaged or destroyed. By November 10, 34% and 31% of buildings were damaged or destroyed in northern Gaza and Gaza City, respectively. By January 5, after three months of continuous bombardment of Gaza, nearly half (44%) of Gaza's buildings were damaged or destroyed. Most of the destruction was concentrated in the north, with about 70% of the area in northern Gaza and Gaza City destroyed. Medical facilities were also targeted by Israeli bombings and ground invasions, leading to hospitals such as the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City being surrounded by Israeli forces, cutting off access to those in need of urgent medical care and treatment.

After 15 months of Israeli airstrikes, Gaza has been transformed beyond recognition. It is estimated that nearly 60% of buildings have been damaged or destroyed, with the worst affected province being Gaza City, where 74% of buildings were destroyed. By August 2024, more than 625,000 school-aged children in Gaza had missed a full year of formal education. Gaza's education system is in ruins after Israeli airstrikes. Many schools that still exist are being used as temporary shelters for displaced families, further undermining their capacity as educational institutions. Approximately 88% of schools, or 496 out of 564, were damaged or destroyed. According to OCHA, at least 503 educators have been killed, and all university buildings in Gaza have been destroyed.

Entire communities have been leveled, and millions of people rely on humanitarian aid for shelter and survival. This mass displacement and destruction of infrastructure highlight the immense challenges Gaza faces in its reconstruction, raising urgent questions about the future of its people and any hope of a return to normalcy. Approximately 92% (436,000) of housing units have been destroyed or damaged, in addition to 80% of commercial facilities. Furthermore, 9 out of 10 Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced.

Hospitals in Gaza are on the verge of collapse, having been repeatedly attacked and deprived of essential supplies, despite being clearly protected under humanitarian law. This has left many desperately needed hospitals in Gaza unable to function, with only half even partially operational, including only one in the entire northern Gaza province. In January of this year, Gaza health officials stated that Al-Aqsa Hospital, Nasser Hospital, and the European Hospital were at risk of imminent closure after repeated Israeli bombings and blockades of supplies. Restoring hospitals in Gaza after the ceasefire will require a monumental effort, as restoring electricity and clean water will be crucial. In some cases, hospitals will need to be completely rebuilt, while ensuring basic medical supplies and specialized equipment, which Israel cut off during the war.

It is estimated that 68% of agricultural land has now been destroyed. Sentinel-2 satellite images show a significant reduction in cultivated land, with the highest proportion of destruction in each province of northern Gaza, where over three-quarters of agricultural land has been destroyed. In addition, many livestock in the area were killed, and irrigation systems and other agricultural equipment were destroyed, making recovery challenging. The soil will first need to be cleared of rubble and unexploded ordnance, followed by decontamination. Rebuilding Gaza’s agricultural centers will require substantial financial assistance from international organizations.

According to data from the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) in August 2024, approximately 1,190 kilometers (740 miles) of roads in Gaza have been destroyed, 415 kilometers (258 miles) have been severely affected, and 1,440 kilometers (895 miles) have been moderately affected. This is equivalent to approximately 65% of the enclave's total road network.