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full screen Lina Eklund analyzes the destruction in Gaza, using images from space. Photo: Johan Joelsson
Researcher Lina Eklund follows and analyzes the destruction in Gaza – with the help of images from space.
Since October 7, almost 60 percent of all buildings in the region have been destroyed in Israeli attacks, according to the research group DDMG.
– It is on a completely new level, she says.
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Week after week, Lina Eklund, researcher in natural geography and ecological science at Lund University, analyzes new satellite images taken over the Gaza Strip.
It has now been over eight months since Israel began its bombing of Gaza, in response to Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023.
She described the destruction as “enormous”.
As of June 1, over 170,000 buildings had been partially or fully destroyed in Gaza, 60 percent of the total. In northern Gaza, it is about 70 percent of the buildings.
– These are very high numbers, says Lina Eklund.
What kind of buildings are destroyed?
– These are hospitals, schools and housing. That’s all. Even tent camps have been bombed, says Lina Eklund.
“A whole new level”
It is possible to compare the destruction with previous escalations in the conflict between Israel and radical groups in Gaza.
In 2014, over 14,000 buildings were completely or partially destroyed in Gaza. In 2021, 1,700 buildings were destroyed in eleven days in bombings.
– Now it’s on a completely new level, says Lina Eklund.
A year after the 2021 war, authorities in Gaza stated that only 200 of the destroyed buildings had been rebuilt, according to the researcher.
– At that rate, it would take 850 years to rebuild the buildings that have been destroyed now. It’s absolutely insane.
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full screen Image 1: Satellite image taken by the Sentinel-2 satellites of the EU satellite program at the end of June 2023 of the area between the Al-Shati and Jabalia refugee camps, north of Gaza City.
Wanted to give an objective picture
In November last year, Lina Eklund joined the international research group Decentralized damage mapping group (DDMG). She now follows the satellite images of the Gaza Strip alongside her regular work.
– Initially, it was about getting information out and supporting the media.
With the images and their analyses, the researchers can give a more objective picture of what is happening, according to Lina Eklund.
– We cannot show everything that can be shown if you are there. But what we can support, or oppose, are the reports that come from inside Gaza or from Israel.
Pollution in water and soil
In addition to buildings, according to Lina Eklund, the environment in Gaza is also destroyed and the bombings create water and soil pollution.
– It will be a problem far into the future.
Lina Eklund has particularly looked at arable land and water infrastructure in her work.
– What I have been able to see is that large military roads have appeared on agricultural land. Then we see that the agricultural land does not seem to be actively cultivated anymore.
– Gaza has also had many greenhouses, which were bombed and destroyed.
Gaza is and was not self-sufficient in terms of food. Israel has for many years controlled all entry and exit of people and goods in the area. Right now, imports are not working and the entry of humanitarian aid is very limited.
– Together with the fact that agriculture is destroyed, it is clear that it worsens the situation, says Lina Eklund.
According to a new UN supported report from the IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) nearly half a million people in Gaza are suffering from catastrophic famine. The UN has repeatedly warned of famine.
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full screen Image 2: Image of the same area taken at the end of June this year
Can be used in court
The satellite images and DDMG’s analyzes may also be used in war crimes trials at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. That type of material has been used as evidence in previous cases.
– I hope that both images and analysis can help hold those responsible accountable, says Lina Eklund and continues:
– We can see that the amount of buildings and agricultural land that has been damaged is against international law. You must not destroy the food supply for civilians, or hospitals. And here we see that it has happened to a large extent.
When talking about the destruction of buildings and infrastructure in Gaza, it is important to understand that it is also about human lives being destroyed, underlines Lina Eklund.
– There are so many people who have died and children and adults who have been put on hold for life, she says.
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full screenLina Eklund Photo: Johan Joelsson
FACT Background
More than eight months have passed since October 7, when Hamas attacked Israel in what is being called the worst massacre of Jews in modern times.
Over 1,100 people, mainly Israelis, were killed and around 250 people were kidnapped. Many have since been released. Roughly 100 are estimated to remain with Hamas in Gaza. How many are alive is unknown.
The military invasion that Israel launched in October against the Gaza Strip – with the goal of eradicating Hamas and bringing back the hostages – has been very bloody. By Palestinians it is called a new Nakba, catastrophe, just like the expulsion of Palestinians that took place in 1948 when the state of Israel was established.
According to the Hamas-controlled health department in Gaza, over 37,000 Palestinians are estimated to have been killed by Israeli attacks. The UN agency Ocha breaks down the killed into four different groups: Men 40 percent, children 32 percent, women 20 percent and “elderly”, 8 percent.
Over 86,000 have been injured.
The UN has repeatedly warned of famine in Gaza. In the latest report by the UN-backed IPC, half a million people in Gaza are estimated to be suffering from catastrophic famine.
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