Gaza City – According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, more than 80% of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed since Israel launched the war in October 2023, reducing many residential districts to rubble and wiping out much of the territory's infrastructure.
For generations, Gaza's streets, markets, schools, hospitals and public spaces formed the backdrop of everyday life – where people worked, studied, shopped, met friends and relatives, and preserved their memories.
Many of the city's familiar landmarks also carry a deep history, reflecting Gaza's role as a crossroads of civilizations for thousands of years.
The war has likewise changed Gaza's face, with numerous historic structures and symbols damaged or destroyed. According to UNESCO, since October 2023, 164 cultural sites have been verified as damaged, including 128 buildings of historical or artistic value, 14 religious sites, 9 monuments, 8 archaeological areas, 2 museums and 3 archives of movable cultural heritage.
Among them are the Great Omari Mosque – Gaza's oldest mosque – Qasr al-Basha, the ancient Samaritan Bathhouse, the al-Qissariya Market and the Saint Porphyrius Church complex.
Some now lie in ruins; others still stand but are heavily damaged. The destruction has not only transformed individual structures but also reshaped entire streets and surrounding neighborhoods, erasing the landmarks that once helped residents recognize and navigate their city.
The photo series below places archival images of Gaza's most recognizable streets, markets and public buildings alongside new photographs taken three years into the war, showing how these once-familiar places have changed after years of bombardment and devastation.
