Photos: Gaza before and after – a city transformed by war

What the report says

Al Jazeera published a photo feature from Gaza City showing how the enclave’s urban landscape has been transformed after three years of war that began in October 2023. Using archive images alongside recent photographs, the report contrasts familiar streets, public buildings and historic sites with scenes of widespread ruin and displacement.

The article cites the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics as saying more than 80 percent of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed since the war began. It also says UNESCO has verified damage to 164 cultural sites, including historic buildings, religious sites, monuments, archaeological sites, museums and depositories of movable cultural property. Among the places highlighted are the Great Omari Mosque, Qasr al-Basha, the Samaritan Bathhouse, al-Qissariya Market and the Church of Saint Porphyrius complex.

The photo set shows damage across well-known parts of Gaza City, including the port area, Al-Rashid Street, the Rashad al-Shawwa Cultural Centre, the Islamic University of Gaza and Yarmouk Stadium. Several of these locations are now partly or largely destroyed, while others have been turned into makeshift shelter sites for displaced Palestinians. The images underline how the war has altered not only individual buildings but also the streets and landmarks that once helped residents navigate daily life.

The broader significance is both physical and cultural: beyond housing and infrastructure loss, Gaza’s historic and civic spaces have been erased or severely altered, affecting the city’s identity and collective memory.