The desperation of Palestinians in Gaza is visible from space as newly-published satellite imagery showed thousands of people surrounding lorries carrying aid on Saturday, July 26
The image, released by Planet Labs, shows dense crowds gathered around 15 aid trucks. It was taken about 200m north of the Israeli military partition known as the Morag corridor, which runs across the Gaza Strip and separates the southern cities of Khan Younis and Rafah. The queue of people stretches for 2km (1.25 miles) north of the trucks towards Khan Younis.
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is reaching a critical level. Israel’s decision to resume humanitarian aid deliveries to the Strip comes after numerous expert warnings that the Palestinian population of the semi-enclave, numbering approximately 2 million, is facing a humanitarian catastrophe, primarily famine. After the ceasefire collapsed in March 2025, Israel imposed a complete blockade, preventing the delivery of food, medicine, and water. According to the UN, over 2 million people are struggling with hunger, and malnutrition is causing the deaths of children. Hospitals, such as Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, are operating in emergency mode, lacking basic medical supplies. Humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders and Amnesty International, are calling for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors, accusing Israel of using hunger as a weapon. The death toll in the conflict has exceeded 58,500, mostly women and children.
Satellite Images Reveal Extent of Destruction in Gaza
Recent satellite imagery of Gaza paints a stark picture of the devastation caused by ongoing bombardments. High-resolution images, captured by commercial satellites and analyzed by organizations like the United Nations and independent geospatial firms, show widespread destruction across urban and residential areas. Entire neighborhoods in cities like Gaza City and Khan Younis appear reduced to rubble, with densely packed buildings replaced by craters, debris, and collapsed infrastructure.
Images from early 2025, compared to pre-conflict baselines, highlight the obliteration of key landmarks, including schools, hospitals, and mosques. The UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) reported that over 30% of Gaza’s structures have been damaged or destroyed, with northern Gaza facing the heaviest toll. Roads and agricultural fields are scarred by tank tracks and bomb impacts, while coastal areas show signs of temporary displacement camps swelling in size.
The imagery also reveals the challenges of humanitarian access, with blocked roads and damaged aid facilities complicating relief efforts. Analysts note that the scale of destruction suggests a long road to recovery, with rebuilding efforts likely to take decades.
