Angelina Jolie shares shocking images of Gaza: Open 'Google Earth' to see what has befallen it
American actress Angelina Jolie posted shocking images on her Instagram account showing areas in the Gaza Strip before and after the war, highlighting the scale of destruction inflicted on neighborhoods and infrastructure, and calling for intensified humanitarian aid as winter approaches. Jolie said users could now open “Google Earth” to see the extent of what has happened in Gaza, noting that “entire neighborhoods have turned to rubble,” and that homes, schools, universities, hospitals, roads, and water and sewage networks, along with the infrastructure upon which residents depend to survive, have been damaged or destroyed.
Jolie cited a United Nations analysis of satellite imagery, which she said showed that 82% of Gaza’s buildings were damaged as of June 16, 2026, with approximately two-thirds of the damaged buildings estimated to have been destroyed. In her post, Jolie warned of worsening humanitarian needs as winter approaches, stating that 1.98 million people—94% of Gaza’s population—require shelter assistance and basic necessities, while aid and shelter supplies continue to face restrictions and delays. She called for providing shelter to residents before winter arrives, ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in the required quantities, and supplying hospitals with medical supplies. She also emphasized the need to create conditions that enable civilians to rebuild their homes, schools, hospitals, and communities.
Jolie’s post did not focus solely on physical destruction; she pointed out that satellite imagery, no matter how clear, cannot convey what it means to live amid such devastation, the fate of families who have lost members, or the nature of life for those who have survived. She said the destruction can be seen and the needs are known, but the most important question now is whether those needs will be met.
Jolie’s post comes after new images spread via “Google Earth” revealing the scale of destruction across wide areas of the Gaza Strip. An investigation by Bellingcat clarified that not all the images that drew widespread attention were newly released; the most recent images from Gaza had been available since June 2026. Media reports also indicated that the images shared by Jolie include comparisons between areas in Gaza in 2022 and 2026, showing changes in neighborhoods, buildings, and infrastructure in areas including Rafah, Khan Younis, and the city of Gaza.
