A War Of Revenge: How Israel Destroyed Gaza

Gaza, which is home to approximately 2.3 million residents, looks drastically different than it did a year ago.

Israeli strikes have devastated entire neighborhoods, obliterated historic mosques and churches, and ruined essential agricultural areas.

The extent of the destruction in this small region, measuring just 365 square kilometers (141 square miles), is so severe that many inhabitants are unable to return home and are unlikely to do so in the near future.

Satellite images from Al Jazeera’s digital investigation team, Sanad, show a landscape marked by craters, charred farmland, and the grey remnants of collapsed buildings.

Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli diplomat, reflects the views of much of Israeli society, noting that there is little concern for the nearly 42,000 Palestinians who have died in Gaza over the past year.

“For the initial months, Israelis were mostly unaware of the situation in Gaza,” he told Al Jazeera, adding that the media did not accurately convey the extent of the death and destruction occurring there.

“Then came the mentality of ‘we don’t care, look at what they did to us.’ It’s a very human response, but it’s not right,” Pinkas explained. “Awareness of the situation is crucial, as it could lead to further cycles of conflict and violence.”

As more images from the war-torn Gaza emerged, he noted that “Israelis’ views became more entrenched.”

“People referred to it as a war of revenge, and indeed it is a war of revenge. Any other nation would likely have reacted similarly. The discontent and frustration of the international community regarding the conflict seemed to matter little to most Israelis.”