Gaza war’s 1,000 days: 90% of strip ‘destroyed’, 80% ‘seized’ by Israel

Lead

Gaza marked 1,000 days since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, with reports describing overwhelming destruction and a stalled ceasefire. According to Gaza's Government Media Office, more than 90 percent of the Gaza Strip has been destroyed, and Israeli forces now control 80 percent of the besieged territory. The South China Morning Post separately reported that Israeli forces control over half of the territory, with the Israeli government aiming to hold 70 percent.

Coverage Comparison

Al Jazeera's reporting, based on figures from Gaza's Government Media Office and Ministry of Health, presents a detailed humanitarian toll: at least 73,066 Palestinians killed, more than 21,500 of them children, 173,514 wounded, and 9,500 people missing, many believed to be buried under rubble. The outlet also reported that about 223,000 tonnes of explosives have been dropped by Israel on Gaza — a figure it compared to 16 times the amount dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Al Jazeera's coverage emphasizes the ongoing violence despite a nominal ceasefire, reporting 1,072 Palestinians killed since the October truce took effect.

The South China Morning Post takes a broader regional view, noting that over 2 million Palestinians are largely displaced and living amid ruins. Its reporting highlights the fragility of the ceasefire, with further steps — including Hamas' disarmament and reconstruction — stalled. The outlet quoted Nicolas von Arx, regional director for the International Committee of the Red Cross, saying: "Much more needs to be done so that even a semblance of normality can come back, and we are far, far away from this."

Both outlets describe a population exhausted by prolonged conflict and a humanitarian situation that continues to deteriorate.

Key Claims

• Destruction and control: Gaza's Government Media Office says more than 90 percent of the Strip has been destroyed. Al Jazeera reports Israeli forces control 80 percent of the territory, while the South China Morning Post reports Israeli control over more than half, with the government aiming for 70 percent.

• Casualty figures: Gaza's Ministry of Health, as cited by Al Jazeera, puts the death toll at at least 73,066 Palestinians since October 7, 2023, including more than 21,500 children and 1,022 babies. A further 9,500 people are missing, and 173,514 have been wounded.

• Explosives dropped: Al Jazeera reports about 223,000 tonnes of explosives have been dropped by Israel on Gaza during the war.

• Post-ceasefire deaths: Al Jazeera reports 1,072 Palestinians killed since the October ceasefire, including three killed in a drone strike near al-Hilu station on July 1 and seven more over the following 48 hours, among them 10-year-old Tareq Sabah, killed near Khan Younis.

• Displacement and humanitarian access: The South China Morning Post reports over 2 million Palestinians displaced. Al Jazeera describes strikes on tents in the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone and protests outside al-Shifa Hospital over restrictions on medical evacuations, with more than 20,000 people awaiting exit through the Rafah crossing.

• Ceasefire implementation: The South China Morning Post reports that further ceasefire steps, including Hamas' disarmament and reconstruction, have stalled. Al Jazeera reports that the US-created Board of Peace, established in January to oversee the ceasefire, has failed to secure Israeli compliance, with only a third of the aid trucks committed entering the enclave.

Perspectives

The perspectives of the parties involved are presented through official statements and quoted analysts. Gaza's Government Media Office and Ministry of Health provide the casualty and destruction figures. The Israeli government's aim to hold 70 percent of the territory is reported by the South China Morning Post, though no Israeli official is directly quoted in the material. Analysts cited by Al Jazeera, such as Iyad Jouda, criticize the ceasefire oversight, saying the Board of Peace "has deviated from its main purpose" of unifying Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross, through its regional director, expresses concern about the lack of normalcy and the scale of tasks ahead.