Three years have passed since the events of October 7, which changed the face of life in Palestine. Although the aggression targeted Gaza specifically, resulting in hundreds of thousands of victims, the impact extended to all Palestinian territories, from Gaza to the West Bank and Jerusalem. According to the Palestinian News Agency "Wafa", the effects of this aggression are still evident.
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics revealed shocking numbers that reflect the erosion of the meaning of life in the Gaza Strip since October 7. The number of damaged buildings due to the Israeli occupation's aggression from October 7, 2023, to June 16, 2026, reached approximately 201,290 buildings, which is about 82% of the total buildings in the sector. Of these, 134,422 buildings were completely destroyed, and 13,848 buildings were severely damaged.
The continuous displacement and reduction of available space for residents in the Gaza Strip have led to a repeated displacement of most of the sector's population, numbering around 2.1 million people. The restrictions imposed on access to large parts of the sector have confined residents to less than 40% of the Gaza Strip's area. The West Bank has also witnessed significant damage, especially in the northern governorates.
In the West Bank, the governorates of Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarem suffered significant damage. In Jenin's camp, 680 buildings were damaged, representing about 53% of the total buildings. In Nur Shams camp, 434 buildings were damaged, representing 55%. In Tulkarem camp, 407 buildings were damaged, about 37% of the total buildings. This was until February 2026.
In addition to the damage, 341 demolition operations took place during the first half of 2026, resulting in the demolition of 740 Palestinian facilities. There were also 254 demolition notifications due to lack of licensing, including 102 notifications in Hebron, 70 in Bethlehem, and 34 in Jerusalem. These actions were accompanied by a noticeable escalation in settler attacks, reaching 3,488 during the first half of 2026.
The forced displacement in the West Bank has resulted in around 4,000 Palestinians being displaced since the beginning of 2026 until September 2026, according to a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The housing map in the West Bank has also changed, with the percentage of families living in apartments rising from 60.4% in 2024 to 68.6% in 2025.
The destruction has also affected the water and sanitation infrastructure in Gaza, with about 90% of it damaged or destroyed. Around 82% of families suffer from water insecurity, and 70% of families can only access 6 liters of water per person per day, which is much less than the minimum required by the World Health Organization, estimated at 15 liters per person per day.
Key points
- 82% of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed since October 7, 2023.
- The continuous displacement has confined Gaza residents to less than 40% of the sector's area.
- About 90% of Gaza's water and sanitation infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.
