Recent satellite imagery published by The New York Times reveals the scale of devastation inflicted by Israeli occupation forces on the Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City over a three-week period.
The first image, dated August 8, shows dozens of intact buildings and visible refugee camps. By August 25, the second image depicts widespread destruction—most buildings reduced to rubble and the camps erased.
The newspaper also reported Israeli tanks maneuvering through Zeitoun in recent days, noting that the level of destruction mirrors what has occurred in Rafah and Beit Hanoun, areas that have been nearly obliterated during the ongoing assault.
Independent satellite analysis confirms that over 200 tents visible on August 9 had dwindled to just a dozen by August 19. More than 1,000 buildings in Zeitoun and Sabra were destroyed in August alone, marking one of the most intense bombardment phases since the start of the ground invasion.
The military onslaught in Zeitoun is part of broader preparations for a full-scale offensive to occupy Gaza City. On August 6, evacuation orders were issued for nine zones within Zeitoun, instructing residents to flee southward.
However, many reportedly evacuated westward toward the coast amid heavy shelling in Zeitoun, Shuja’iyya, and Sabra.
Fadi Al-Saifi, 33, a resident of Sabra, told The New York Times: “It’s heartbreaking to see your friends’ homes destroyed.”
The offensive began three weeks ago, with Israeli forces estimating it would conclude within two weeks. The stated goal is to prepare for a larger operation to take control of Gaza City next month.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that over 70 Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours across Gaza, with dozens more wounded in the southern districts.
Civil defense teams report that more than 1,500 homes have been destroyed in Gaza City alone.
The total death toll has now surpassed 62,900, with over 159,000 wounded since the start of the war. Starvation-related deaths are rising, with four fatalities recorded in the last 24 hours. Nearly one in three children in Gaza City is now classified as malnourished.
