Gaza has been ravaged by more than one month of non-stop Israeli bombardment that has levelled entire neighbourhoods and delivered death and destruction to the enclave’s 2.3 million residents.
Israel has dropped more than 25,000 tonnes of explosives on the besieged Gaza Strip, which is just 365sq km (141sq miles) in size. That is the equivalent of two nuclear bombs landing on an area a quarter the size of London.
As of November 10, half of Gaza’s homes – 222,000 residential units – have been damaged, with more than 40,000 completely destroyed. While most of the destruction has been centred in northern Gaza, even its south, which Israel had declared a safe zone, has not been spared.
In the following series of maps, Al Jazeera shows what it would look like if the Gaza Strip were to be placed in some of the world’s most well-known cities and where entirely destroyed areas would be. Satellite image analysis of damage covers the period from October 7 to November 5.
AFRICA
Johannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg, colloquially known as Joburg, is South Africa’s largest city. On its outskirts is Soweto, short for “South Western Townships”, which was the epicentre of the struggle against racial segregation in the 1980s and 90s. With an urban area of some 3,357sq km (1,296sq miles), the City of Gold is about nine times larger than Gaza.
Gaza’s length would be the distance between Soweto and OR Tambo International Airport, and its width about the distance between Braamfontein and Rosebank.
To put some landmarks in perspective:
- Soweto would be in Beit Lahiya
- Fordsburg would be in the Nuseirat refugee camp
- Houghton would be in Deir el-Balah
- Bedfordview would be in Khan Younis
Lagos, Nigeria
Nigeria’s economic powerhouse, Lagos has an area of some 1,171sq km (452sq miles), making the coastal city about three times the size of Gaza.
Gaza’s length would be the distance between Suru Alaba Railway Station and Magboro and its width about the distance between Obalende Bridge and the National Theatre Nigeria.
To put some landmarks in perspective:
- Murtala Muhammed International Airport would be in Deir el-Balah
- The National Theatre Nigeria would be located in Khan Younis
- Snake Island would be in Rafah
AMERICAS
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires is a coastal city that spans an area of 203sq km (78sq miles), about half the size of Gaza.
The Gaza Strip is about the same length as from Obelisco to President Peron Highway, and as wide as from El Jaguel to Turdera.
To put some landmarks in perspective:
- Estadio Mas Monumental would be in Rafah
- The Matanza River would run through Khan Younis
- Esteban Echeverria district would be in North Gaza
Los Angeles, United States
A sprawling city located in Southern California and the home of Hollywood, LA is about 1,300sq km (502sq miles), making it 3.5 times the size of Gaza.
The length of Gaza is about the distance from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to San Bernardino and as wide as from Beverly Hills to West Hollywood.
To put some landmarks in perspective:
- Los Angeles International Airport would be located at the Rafah crossing
- Beverly Hills would be would be in Khan Younis
- Santa Monica Pier would be in Rafah
New York City, United States
New York, colloquially known as the Big Apple, comprises five boroughs and covers an area of around 778sq km (300sq miles), making it twice the size of Gaza.
Gaza is about the same length as the distance between Bay Ridge and Yonkers and is about twice as wide as Manhattan.
To put some landmarks in perspective:
- Yankee Stadium would be in Deir el-Balah
- The Empire State Building would be in the centre of Gaza City
- The Statue of Liberty would be in Gaza City’s Shujaiya neighbourhood
Toronto, Canada
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and financial capital. Its urban city sprawls an area of 641sq km (247sq miles), making it about twice the size of Gaza.
Yonge Street, spanning approximately 86km (53 miles), is one of Toronto’s most famous roads, boasting a length more than double that of the entire Gaza Strip or equal in distance from the Waterfront Toronto to Lake Wilcox. The width of Gaza is about the same as from Toronto Pearson International Airport to James Gardens.
To put some landmarks in perspective:
- Casa Loma would be in Khan Younis
- The CN Tower would be in Rafah
- Toronto Island Park would be in the Rafah refugee camp
ASIA
Islamabad, Pakistan
Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, was established in 1960, 13 years after the partition with India and independence from the British Empire. A relatively young city, it covers an area of some 906sq km (349sq miles), about 2.5 times the size of Gaza.
The length of Gaza is equal to the distance from the village of Daleh to Tarnol and its width is the same as from Saidpur to Rawal Lake.
To put some landmarks in perspective:
- Faisal Mosque would be along Wadi Gaza
- Pakistan Monument would be in Deir el-Balah
- Golra Railway Station would be near Gaza City
New Delhi, India
The national capital of India, New Delhi covers an area of 1,483sq km (573sq miles), making it about four times the size of Gaza.
Gaza’s length of 41km (25 miles) is about the same distance as from Badarpur to Kundli and its 10km (6-mile) width is the same distance as from Chanakyapuri to Pandav Nagar.
To put some landmarks in perspective:
- The Red Fort would be along Wadi Gaza
- India Gate would be in the Maghazi refugee camp
- Jahanpanah City Forest would be in the Khan Younis refugee camp
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, is a multicultural hub in Southeast Asia. Colloquially referred to as KL, the city has a federal territory area of 243sq km (94sq miles), about two-thirds the size of Gaza.
At 41km (25 miles), Gaza is the same length as from Batu Caves to Putrajaya Botanical Garden and as wide as from KLCC Park to Thean Hou Temple.
To put some landmarks in perspective:
- Batu Caves would be in Beit Hanoon
- The Petronas Towers would be in Gaza City’s Shujayea neighbourhood
- Nanhaizi Park would be in Khan Younis
Sydney, Australia
Sydney is the largest and most populous city in Australia. The Greater Sydney region covers an area of 12,368sq km (4,775sq miles), making it 34 times the size of Gaza.
The entire length of Gaza would fit in the distance between the Sydney Opera House to St Marys while the width of Gaza is about the same distance from North Sydney to Alexandria.
To put some landmarks in perspective:
- Sydney Olympic Park would be in Gaza City
- Western Sydney Parklands would be in Khan Younis
- Sydney Opera House would be in North Gaza
EUROPE
Berlin, Germany
Once divided into East and West by the Berlin Wall, the city of some 3.8 million inhabitants covers an area of 892sq km (344sq miles), about twice the size of Gaza.
The Gaza Strip is about the same length as from Kladow to Fredersdorf-Vogelsdorf, and as wide as from Kreuzberg to Gesundbrunnen.
To put some landmarks in perspective:
- Grunewald Forest would be in Khan Younis
- Brandenburg Gate would be in Deir el-Balah
- The Berlin Wall Memorial would be in the Deir el-Balah refugee camp
London, United Kingdom
London, the capital city of the United Kingdom, spans an area of 1,572sq km (606sq miles), making it about four times the size of Gaza.
Gaza’s length is about the same distance as from Heathrow Airport to London City Airport. Gaza is about as wide as from Kensington to Brixton.
To put some landmarks in perspective:
- Heathrow Airport would be in Beit Lahiya
- Big Ben would be in Deir el-Balah
- Greenwich would be in Khan Younis
Paris, France
The home of love, art and culture, Paris spans an area 105sq km (41sq miles), making it about a third of the size of the Gaza Strip.
Gaza’s length is about the same distance as from the Eiffel Tower to Disneyland Paris and is about as wide as from Arc de Triomphe to Parc Leon Salagnac.
To put some landmarks in perspective:
- The Eiffel Tower would be located in Beit Hanoon, North Gaza
- The Louvre Museum would be in the Jabalia refugee camp
- Disneyland Paris would be located in Rafah
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA
