Google Maps shows Rafah destruction
The gist
Google Maps updated its Gaza satellite imagery, showing Rafah largely flattened in Feb 2026 captures.
The images put the war's destruction on a platform used daily by millions worldwide.
How it unfolded
- Feb 25, 2026Google Earth imagery captured on 25 February 2026 shows extensive destruction in Rafah, per an Al Jazeera analysis; the Saudi neighbourhood in Tal al-Sultan, including a housing project with hundreds of units, was largely flattened.
- Jun 16, 2026UNOSAT estimated about 201,290 structures had sustained damage by 16 June 2026, of which 134,422 were classified as destroyed and 13,848 as severely damaged.
- Aug 12, 2026The UN Satellite Centre said 82 percent of all Gaza structures, or 200,000, had faced some damage, with two-thirds destroyed.