Earlier this week, several viral social media posts and news articles stated that Google had updated satellite imagery over Gaza. But the images weren't entirely new.

This article has interactive before and after images that you can look at.

Earlier this week, several viral social media posts and news articles stated that Google had updated satellite imagery over Gaza.

The imagery shared in these posts and articles shows several areas, including the southern city of Rafah. Huge destruction is detailed in the images, including what appears to be entire neighbourhoods flattened

But the imagery wasn’t entirely new.

A Google spokesperson told Bellingcat that they regularly updated third-party satellite images and that the latest Gaza imagery had actually been available since June 2026.

Bellingcat has access to satellite imagery from commercial space company Planet Labs, which shows further destruction in Rafah after the June Google update.

The Planet Labs imagery also gives insight into destruction further north in Gaza as recently as September.

  • SpacemanSpiff@lemmy.zipEnglish
    20·
    2 days ago

    Honestly these images don’t even do it justice. There are some real armageddon-type images and videos online. Entire cities look like the surface of the moon.

    Like this. This used to be the town of Beit Hanoun. Now looks like Mars.

    Or this

    Or this

    • BeatTakeshi@lemmy.worldEnglish
      8·
      2 days ago

      These still put some distance to the reality. The ones filmed from the ground are even more compelling, that’s why we don’t see them often, they are scrubbed from YouTube immediately. In all those videos, the common factor is that you don’t see people and that’s by choice

    • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      Someone should make this into a VR experience. Maybe then people will actually grasp the reality for the people on the ground.