A new satellite-based assessment by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) revealed catastrophic levels of destruction across the Gaza Strip, showing that 81% of all structures in the territory have sustained damage as of 11 October 2025.

The report, described as the most comprehensive visual analysis since the escalation began in late 2023, highlights the continuing deterioration of infrastructure and living conditions in one of the world’s most densely populated areas.

Using high-resolution satellite imagery collected on 11 October 2025 and compared with previous datasets dating back to May 2023, UNOSAT identified 198,273 affected structures across the Gaza Strip. These include 123,464 completely destroyed, 17,116 severely damaged, 33,857 moderately damaged, and 23,836 possibly damaged buildings.

This represents a 4% increase in total affected structures and an alarming 18% rise in destroyed buildings compared to the last UNOSAT assessment on 8 July 2025, underscoring the continued intensity of hostilities and bombardment across the enclave.

The analysis estimates that around 320,622 housing units have been damaged — a 12% increase since July 2025. The governorates of Gaza City and North Gaza have been the most heavily affected, recording 4,243 and 1,442 newly damaged structures respectively over the past three months.

According to the Population Movement Monitoring – 3rd Monthly Update (September 2025), nearly 379,851 people were displaced within Gaza in September alone, the majority originating from the Gaza Governorate. By early October, that number had surged past 500,000, with most residents fleeing from the north to the south under deteriorating security conditions.

UNOSAT’s findings indicate that damage is most concentrated in the urban centers of Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Rafah, where repeated bombardments have devastated residential blocks, commercial hubs, and infrastructure. Key facilities such as hospitals, universities, and water networks have also sustained varying degrees of damage.

The report notes that this analysis is preliminary and has not yet been verified through field assessments, given the severe restrictions on humanitarian access to several areas across the Strip.

The scale of destruction recorded by UNOSAT underscores the urgency of international action to prevent further civilian suffering. Displacement in Gaza has reached levels unseen in decades, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble and access to water, electricity, and healthcare remaining critically limited. With over 2.3 million residents, Gaza is witnessing near-total collapse of essential services due to the ongoing blockade.