By Ali Karbalaei 

"Gaza now a different color from space" 

December 24, 2023 - 22:18
Experts view Israeli war in Gaza as the most destructive in modern warfare 

TEHRAN- The 10-week Israeli war on Gaza is viewed as one of the most destructive in the history of wars, according to experts.  

The regime's indiscriminate offensive has destroyed over two-thirds of all structures in northern Gaza and a quarter of buildings in the southern area of Khan Younis. 

That's according to an analysis of Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite data by Corey Scher of the CUNY Graduate Center and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University - who are both experts in mapping damage during wartime. 

"Gaza is now a different color from space. It's a different texture," said Scher, who has worked to map destruction across several warzones. 

Israeli attacks, in just two months, have destroyed more than what was seen in the U.S.-backed razing of Aleppo city in Syria between 2012 and 2016, the battle for Ukraine's Mariupol last year, or proportionally, the allied countries' bombardment of Germany during World War II. 

Also, it has remarkably even killed more civilians than the fight against Daesh terrorists. 

This has all been made possible by the use of powerful American-manufactured ordnance, including sophisticated bunker buster bombs, which have led to high levels of destruction and casualties, according to the researchers. 

According to U.S. military historian Robert Pape, between 1942 and 1945, allied countries attacked 51 major German cities and towns, destroying about 40-50% of their urban areas. 

He says this amounted to 10% of buildings across Germany, compared with the more than 33% of those razed across Gaza - which is a far more densely populated territory that measures 360 square kilometers.   

"Gaza is one of the most intense civilian punishment campaigns in history," Pape said.  "It now sits comfortably in the top quartile of the most devastating bombing campaigns ever." 

The coastal enclave of Gaza has endured overwhelming destruction according to the new data that showcases the severe level of devastation inside the territory. 

The use of powerful weapons has led to unprecedented damage, triggering a global call for immediate action to alleviate civilian suffering and protect human life. 

The research reveals how the relentless attacks have resulted in over two-thirds of northern Gaza’s structures being completely demolished by Israeli warplanes, armed drones, tank and artillery fire, and naval attacks among other forms of attacks. 

This is while in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the strip, the data suggests that nearly one-fourth of all buildings have been reduced to rubble. 

The profound alteration of Gaza’s landscape is so severe that, from a satellite perspective, the area can be identified by a distinct change in color and texture. 

The intensity of the bombings in Gaza is comparable to some of history’s most severe and extreme bombardments.  This has sparked concern among the international community over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. 

With the civilian death toll having already crossed the 20,000 mark, and one-third of structures throughout the territory destroyed, the ramifications of the bombings continue to be catastrophic. 

A staggering 30,000 airstrikes have been carried out, many of which have hit supposed safe zones, directly contradicting guidance provided by the Israeli military. 

The researchers say this blatant disregard for civilian safety and the use of punishing bombing campaigns underscore the dire need for international intervention and a cessation of hostilities. 

The study is based on scientific research and highlights the implications of the ongoing conflict for the civilian population in Gaza. 

The Israeli attacks in Gaza have been so severe that Hamas has said it believes five captives have been killed because of the non-stop Israeli bombings.

The armed wing of Hamas, the al-Qassam Brigades, says it has lost contact with the group responsible for keeping five Israeli captives in Gaza. 

There are still around 100 captives left inside the territory after they were taken on 7 October. 

The spokesman for the al-Qassam Bridges says it believes the five have been killed as a result of the barbaric Israeli bombing. 

In a statement published on his Telegram channel, Abu Ubeida suggested that "the prisoners were killed in one of the Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip," attaching their names to the statement. 

The statement was also accompanied by a picture of three prisoners, who have been likely killed. The statement, written in Arabic, Hebrew, and English, said that "time is running out". It indicated that the Israeli regime is wasting its time with the war it has waged to recover the captives, who are still alive and being held by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza. 

Three of the captives, whom the al-Qassam Brigades announced their names, appeared in a video a few days ago, demanding their families and the occupation government not to abandon them. 

In the video, the captives said that they participated in "building the Israeli army" and demanded their release in a clip that was titled "Don’t let us grow old". 

On Dec. 15, the Israeli army admitted that its forces had shot dead at nearly point-blank range three Israeli captives by mistake in the Shuja'iyya district of northern Gaza, after believing they posed a threat, despite being armless, shirtless, and holding a white flag of surrender. 

This has led to mounting internal Israeli anger, with families of Israeli captives held in Gaza protesting in Tel Aviv, at a site that has become known as "hostage square". 

They are demanding the return of the captives and the conclusion of an immediate prisoner exchange deal with the Hamas. 

Surveys by Israeli media have revealed a sharp drop in support among the Israelis for their government's war on Gaza?, in comparison to the days after the October 7? attack on southern Israel. 

This large drop in support has nothing to do with the slaughter of Palestinian civilians or the children left without limbs but the rising casualties among Israeli soldiers in the fight with the resistance forces in Gaza. 

Experts say it has become evident that the Israeli bombs and ground offensives will not eradicate Hamas or secure the safe release of Israeli captives. 

These were the regime's two stated missions since October 7. 

But how many Israeli Army forces have been killed in the struggle with the resistance forces that have led to such a sharp drop in support for the war on Gaza?

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"Gaza is one of the most intense civilian punishment campaigns in history," American military historian Robert Pape says.  

"It now sits comfortably in the top quartile of the most devastating bombing campaigns ever." 

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