Angelina Jolie Shares Satellite Images of Gaza Destruction, Calls for Aid

Actress Angelina Jolie has shared satellite images comparing the city of Rafah in Gaza in 2022 to 2026, highlighting extensive destruction. She posted the images, sourced from Google Earth, on Instagram, noting that "whole neighborhoods have been turned into rubble." Jolie stated, "Now you can open Google Earth and see what has been done to Gaza." The post has garnered nearly 800,000 likes and tens of thousands of comments.

Jolie detailed the damage, explaining that homes, schools, universities, hospitals, roads, and water and sanitation systems, essential for survival, have been damaged or destroyed. She cited a UN analysis indicating that as of June, 82% of buildings in Gaza were damaged, with about two-thirds of those affected assessed as destroyed. She also highlighted that ahead of winter, 1.98 million people, or 94% of Gaza's population, require shelter and essential supplies, while aid and shelter equipment face restrictions and delays.

While the satellite photos clearly show the physical devastation, Jolie emphasized that they cannot convey the human cost: "what it means to live in it, what happened to the families who were killed, and what the lives of those who survived look like." She called for increased humanitarian aid, stating, "What happens now is important. People need shelter before winter. Humanitarian aid must reach civilians in the required scope. Hospitals need medical equipment."

Jolie urged for conditions to be created that allow residents to rebuild their homes, schools, hospitals, and communities, concluding, "The destruction is visible. The needs are known. What is important now is whether they will be met." The actress, a vocal opponent of the war and Israel's actions in Gaza, previously visited the Rafah crossing from the Egyptian side in January to explore aid options. As a former UN Goodwill Ambassador with over 20 years of humanitarian activism, she has visited conflict zones and refugee camps globally.