Angelina Jolie Highlights Gaza Destruction Using Google Earth Imagery

Actress and director Angelina Jolie has drawn attention to the devastation in Gaza by sharing satellite images from Google Earth that compare the city of Rafah in 2022 and 2026. The images, which have gained millions of views online, show significant portions of Rafah destroyed in the later depiction. Jolie posted the comparison on Instagram, noting that "neighborhoods have turned into ruins" and that "homes, schools, universities, hospitals, roads, water and sewage systems, and infrastructure that people depended on for survival have been damaged or destroyed." The post garnered approximately 800,000 likes and tens of thousands of comments.

Jolie also referenced a UN analysis indicating that as of June this year, 82% of buildings in the Gaza Strip were damaged, with about two-thirds of those damaged buildings destroyed. She highlighted that with winter approaching, 1.98 million people, or 94% of Gaza's population, require assistance with shelter and essential items, while aid delivery faces ongoing restrictions and delays.

She stated that the Google Earth images, updated in June, "show the physical destruction with exceptional clarity," but acknowledged they cannot convey the human experience of living amidst the ruins, the loss of families, or the lives of survivors. Jolie urged for increased humanitarian aid for Gaza's residents, emphasizing the need for shelter before winter, sufficient aid for civilians, and medical equipment for hospitals. She also called for conditions that would allow residents to rebuild their homes, schools, and communities.

Jolie, who has a long history of humanitarian work spanning over 20 years, previously visited the Rafah crossing from the Egyptian side in January to assess aid possibilities. She has been a vocal critic of the war and Israel's actions in Gaza, meeting with officials and aid workers. Previously, she served as a UN Goodwill Ambassador and has focused on broader humanitarian issues, receiving a special Oscar for her humanitarian efforts a decade ago.