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

In Pictures googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Gaza's historic landmarks have been reduced to rubble, altering the city's landscape and erasing generations of memories. [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera] 9 Oct 20269 Oct 2026 Gaza City – More than 80 percent of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed since Israel launched its war on the besieged enclave in October 2023, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, turning whole neighbourhoods into rubble and wiping out much of its infrastructure. For generations, Gaza’s streets, markets, schools, hospitals and public spaces formed the backdrop to everyday life. They were places where people worked, studied, shopped, met friends and family, and built memories. Many of the city’s familiar landmarks also carried a much longer history, reflecting Gaza’s thousands of years as a crossroads of different civilisations. The war has also changed the face of Gaza . UNESCO has verified damage to 164 cultural sites since October 2023, including 128 buildings of historical or artistic interest, 14 religious sites, nine monuments, eight archaeological sites, two museums and three depositories of movable cultural property. Among them are the Great Omari Mosque, Gaza’s oldest mosque, Qasr al-Basha, the ancient Samaritan Bathhouse, al-Qissariya Market and the Church of Saint Porphyrius complex. Some of these places have been reduced to ruins, while others remain standing but heavily damaged. The destruction has altered not only individual buildings but the streets and neighbourhoods around them, removing landmarks that once helped people recognise and navigate their city. This photo series contrasts archive images of some of Gaza’s most recognisable streets, markets and public buildings with new photographs taken three years into the war, showing how these familiar places have changed after years of bombardment and destruction. Gaza's port has long been a central part of life along the city's coast, serving as a base for local fishermen and a familiar gathering place for residents. After three years of war, the port and its surrounding coastline have been heavily damaged, with thousands of displaced families now sheltering in tents across the port area. [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera] Al-Rashid Street, Gaza's main coastal road, stretches along the Mediterranean and was once a popular destination lined with cafes, restaurants, shops and hotels. After three years of war, much of the area has been damaged or destroyed, with tents now filling parts of the coastline. [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera] Rashad al-Shawwa Cultural Centre in Gaza City's Remal neighbourhood was a landmark cultural venue, hosting exhibitions, conferences and public events.