Recent satellite imagery shows the severe toll on infrastructure across Gaza in the wake of the continuing war between Israel and Gaza. The urban neighborhoods of Rafah and Tel al-Sultan have been the worst affected. These photos, captured August 1, 2025, show the devastation wrought by the violence. The devastation from war has reduced most of the city, including UNESCO-preserved ancient neighborhoods, to rubble.
As of early 2024, Rafah was hosting about 1.4 million of those Palestinians—two-thirds of Gaza’s original population. After a military offensive, which Israel began in Rafah, conditions worsened even more. Gaza’s Kerem Shalom aid depot, located in the territory’s southern corner, directly next to the Israeli border. It has emerged as a key nerve center for humanitarian assistance during this unprecedented crisis.
The State of Tel al-Sultan
The neighborhood of Tel al-Sultan has faced devastating destruction amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza crisis. First satellite images captured prior to October 7, 2023 show overwhelming damage. As of March 2025, the extent of the devastation was clear. As destruction unfolded across the nation, our latest disaster imagery showed immediate signs of devastation.
The legacy of destruction in Tel al-Sultan stands as a testament to the deplorable impacts on civilians as a result of the continuing hostilities. On the ground, the Israeli military has described an emergency situation. They reported, “Humanitarian aid is being left out in the sun until the UN and international organizations come to collect it. This paints an alarming showing of what urgent need looks like, especially for aid to reach those affected by the ongoing conflict.
Aid Efforts and Restrictions
Despite the chaos, aid efforts have persisted. As of mid-January 2025, satellite imagery shows that many of the aid bags appeared to be in the Kerem Shalom warehouse. By late May 2025, the depot was once again decked out with humanitarian supplies. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is backed by both Israeli and U.S. entities, opened multiple aid distribution sites in late July 2025.
In a huge development, Israel eased its blockade on aid. This removal allowed humanitarian goods to move more easily into Gaza. In a stirring new video, Oxfam depicts that desperation, as recent footage has captured wildly chaotic crowds overwhelming first delivery aid trucks. This underscores the desperate reality on the ground.
The Role of Satellite Imagery
The ability to utilize high-resolution satellite imagery has been unarguably instrumental in documenting the unfolding crisis in Gaza. Trucks lined up near stacked aid at the Kerem Shalom depot exemplify the logistical challenges that organizations face in delivering much-needed supplies. Israeli authority over all crossings into Gaza further complicates matters. International media organizations are barred from entering the strip without an Israeli counterpart. This requirement effectively prevents wider awareness of the humanitarian crisis that has developed within its borders.
As events continue to develop, satellite imagery will play a crucial role in understanding both the extent of destruction and the effectiveness of humanitarian efforts in Rafah and Tel al-Sultan.
