Escalation in Gaza: Israel's New Offensive Leads to Massive Destruction

Mon Sep 15 2025 13:08:16 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a significant escalation of the conflict, Israeli forces have intensified their offensive in Gaza City, causing extensive destruction to neighborhoods and resulting in a humanitarian crisis as thousands are displaced.

Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have resulted in the demolition of dozens of buildings in Gaza City, with significant advancements made by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Recent satellite images reveal widespread destruction, raising alarms from UN officials about a potential humanitarian catastrophe. As tensions continue to escalate, many Palestinians are left displaced and vulnerable, with ongoing military actions raising concerns about the long-term implications of the conflict.

Israeli strikes and demolitions have destroyed dozens of buildings in areas of Gaza City, satellite images show, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its offensive has established control over 40% of the city.

The new images reviewed by BBC Verify show that intensive bombardments and controlled explosions have levelled several neighbourhoods over the past four weeks.

Rows of tents - which have sprung up over the city to shelter Palestinians displaced by the Israeli military campaign - have also disappeared over the past month, the images show.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel's intention to seize all of the strip and launch an incursion into Gaza City after indirect talks with Hamas on a ceasefire and hostage release deal broke down in July.

UN humanitarian officials have warned that the impact of a full-blown offensive would be 'beyond catastrophic'. Strikes have intensified in areas of Gaza City in recent weeks and dozens of Palestinians have been killed in attacks this week alone according to the Hamas-run health ministry and civil defence agency.

Satellite images show that significant damage has already occurred in Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan, Zeitoun and Tuffah neighbourhoods in recent weeks. The photos show that dozens of buildings in the city were levelled between August and September.

In a statement to BBC Verify, the IDF said it was 'locating and destroying terror infrastructures embedded, among other things, inside buildings'.

In Sheikh Radwan - a neighbourhood located about three kilometres from Gaza City centre - a number of buildings have been wiped away. BBC Verify previously geolocated footage of strikes carried out by the IDF to the area on 29 August.

The images clearly show track marks left by Israeli armoured vehicles, many of which pass through sections of the neighbourhood where buildings and trees once stood.

BBC Verify also geolocated footage of an explosion which levelled dozens of high-rise buildings as part of a demolition in the adjacent Jabalia area.

In Gaza City's Zeitoun neighbourhood images show what appear to be four clusters of IDF armoured vehicles. In a 24-hour period between 1 and 2 September, dozens of buildings which had stood in an area between the vehicles have been demolished.

Elsewhere in Zeitoun, rows of tents set up by displaced Palestinians have disappeared in little over a month. According to the UN, more than 1.9 million Gazans - about 90% of the population - have been displaced by the Israeli military campaign.

Similarly, in the Tuffah neighbourhood - where Israeli strikes killed at least eight people on Thursday, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency - more buildings have been levelled.

In a statement, an IDF spokesperson asserted that 'in certain cases, entire neighbourhoods in the Gaza Strip are converted into combat complexes' utilized for military purposes. This military campaign comes in the aftermath of a Hamas-led attack on October 7, which has resulted in significant casualties and hostilities between Israel and Hamas.