{"id":2287396,"date":"2024-07-01T15:37:01","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T19:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-fact-checking-claims-about-levels-of-destruction-in-gaza\/"},"modified":"2024-07-01T15:41:40","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T19:41:40","slug":"fact-check-fact-checking-claims-about-levels-of-destruction-in-gaza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-fact-checking-claims-about-levels-of-destruction-in-gaza\/","title":{"rendered":"FACT CHECK: Fact-Checking Claims About Levels Of Destruction In Gaza"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffact-check-fact-checking-claims-about-levels-of-destruction-in-gaza%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2287396&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The United \u200dNations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees In The Near East (UNRWA) claimed in a post that more than\u2064 50% of Gaza\u2019s buildings have\u200c been destroyed. However, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-s-medical-groups-get-the-science-wrong-on-pediatric-gender-affirming-care\/\" title=\"U.S. Medical Groups Get The Science Wrong On Pediatric \u2018Gender Affirming\u2019 Care\">fact-check revealed<\/a> that the actual \u200cassessment by the United Nations Satellite Center showed that 55% of\u2062 Gaza\u2019s buildings have been damaged or\u200c destroyed, not that half of \u2062the buildings were destroyed. Additionally,\u2063 Israel Defense Forces data reportedly stated that only 16% of Gaza\u2019s buildings had been destroyed. Various <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nothing-about-this-election-seems-to-add-up-the-liberty-loft\/\" title=\"Nothing about this election seems to add up | The Liberty Loft\">media reports<\/a> and \u2063research have provided different figures, but \u2064the accurate assessment suggests that a \u2063significant portion of Gaza&#8217;s buildings have\u2064 been damaged or destroyed.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"ob-read-more-selector\">\n<p>The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees In The Near East (UNRWA) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/UNRWA\/status\/1800077045285769280\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/x.com\/UNRWA\/status\/1800077045285769280&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1719585177942000&#038;usg=AOvVaw2d8610YN6CJCg-IFFELOJK\"><span id=\"m_-1320960522609724185mt-tracked-link_2_1719494323974\"><\/span>claimed<\/a> in a June 10 X post that more than 50% of Gaza\u2019s buildings have been destroyed.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The destruction in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Gaza?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Gaza<\/a> is indescribable. More than half of all buildings have been destroyed, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UNOSAT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@UNOSAT<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Clearing the rubble will take years. Healing from the psychological trauma of this war will take even longer.<\/p>\n<p>This suffering must come to an end. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CeasefireNow?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CeasefireNow<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cRQoYo8ZZQ\">pic.twitter.com\/cRQoYo8ZZQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 UNRWA (@UNRWA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UNRWA\/status\/1800077045285769280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 10, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Ynet reported that \u201cUN figures \u201d show that 50% of Gaza\u2019s buildings were destroyed and \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chinese-company-bytedance-appears-to-ignore-threat-of-u-s-ban-says-it-has-no-plans-to-sell-tiktok-report\/\" title=\"ByteDance, a Chinese company, appears unfazed by the U.S. ban threat, stating it has no intentions to sell TikTok, as per reports\">foreign media reports<\/a>\u201d found that 70% were destroyed.<\/p>\n<p><span><strong>Verdict: Misleading<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The United Nations Satellite Center (UNOSAT) assessment shows that 55% of Gaza\u2019s buildings have been destroyed or damaged. It does not state half of buildings are destroyed. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) data reportedly states that 16% of Gaza\u2019s buildings have been destroyed. Neither UN figures or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/just-like-the-good-old-days-joe-biden-invades-syria-with-convoy-of-us-troops-and-choppers-on-first-full-day-as-president\/\" title=\"Just Like the Good Old Days: Joe Biden Invades Syria with Convoy of US Troops and Choppers on First Full Day as President\">foreign media reported<\/a> that 70% of buildings were destroyed.<\/p>\n<p><span><strong>Fact Check:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>UNRWA <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/UNRWA\/status\/1800077045285769280\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/x.com\/UNRWA\/status\/1800077045285769280&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1719585177942000&#038;usg=AOvVaw2d8610YN6CJCg-IFFELOJK\">claimed<\/a> in a June 10 X post that more than 50% of Gaza\u2019s buildings have been destroyed, citing a UNOSAT assessment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe destruction in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Gaza?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Gaza<\/a> is indescribable. More than half of all buildings have been destroyed, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UNOSAT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@UNOSAT<\/a>. Clearing the rubble will take years. Healing from the psychological trauma of this war will take even longer. This suffering must come to an end,\u201d UNRWA tweeted.<\/p>\n<p>This claim, though, appears to be misleading. Check Your Fact reviewed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unosat.org\/products\/3861\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UNOSAT assessment<\/a>. The assessment found that 55% of \u201ctotal structures\u201d have been damaged or destroyed, not that half of buildings have been destroyed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAccording to satellite imagery analysis, UNOSAT identified 36,591 destroyed structures, 16,513 severely damaged structures, 47,368 moderately damaged structures, and 36,825 possibly damaged structures for a total of 137,297 structures. These correspond to around 55% of the total structures in the Gaza Strip and a total of 135,142 estimated damaged housing units,\u201d the assessment reads.<\/p>\n<p>AFP <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barrons.com\/news\/more-than-half-of-gaza-structures-destroyed-or-damaged-un-ef2b76dd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">reported<\/a> on June 3 that the UN analysis shows that \u201c55 percent of all structures in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed, damaged or possibly damaged since war erupted in the Palestinian territory eight months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>An UNRWA spokesperson told Check Your Fact in a WhatsApp message that the wording of the tweet should have been \u201cdestroyed or damaged.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIndeed, the wording should have been \u2018destroyed or damaged,\u2019 but a drafting error in our content led to the latter getting dropped,\u201d the spokesperson said and referred Check Your Fact back to the UNOSAT assessment.<\/p>\n<p>IDF data reportedly says that 16% of Gaza\u2019s buildings have been destroyed, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ynetnews.com\/article\/s199ndcir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ynet<\/a>. This data was reportedly based on \u201cadvanced drones and other technological means in addition to satellite imagery\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFigures revealed for the first time by ynet on Thursday, claim only 16% of buildings in the Strip were destroyed since the start of the war, as opposed to <strong>50% according to UN figures and<\/strong> <b>70% in foreign media reports<\/b>. The data referred to the period ending May 31,\u201d Ynet reported (emphasis added by Check Your Fact.)<\/p>\n<p>Ynet\u2019s report referenced a December 2023 Wall Street Journal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/world\/middle-east\/gaza-destruction-bombing-israel-aa528542\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">report<\/a>. Ynet reported,\u201d The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said in December that the war caused the destruction of 70% of Gaza\u2019s buildings and even compared the situation to the carpet bombing of Dresden in the final days of WWII. The paper claimed that most of Gaza\u2019s homes were damaged or destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The WSJ report found that \u201c70% of Gaza\u2019s 439,000 homes and about half of its buildings have been damaged or destroyed.\u201d It does not state \u201cthat the war caused the destruction of 70% of Gaza\u2019s buildings.\u201d <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/checkyourfact.com\/2024\/06\/12\/fact-check-bidens-wage-increases-inflation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(RELATED: Fact-Checking Biden\u2019s Claim About Wage Increases Versus Inflation)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The 70% figure is also likely a reference to research done by Corey Scher of CUNY Graduate Center and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University. Their research, based on an analysis of satellite data, shows that Israel has damaged or destroyed 50% of Gaza\u2019s buildings between Oct. 7 and April 2, including damaging or destroying 70% of northern Gaza\u2019s buildings, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/04\/07\/gaza-infrastructure-land-damage-israel-six-months-war\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Axios<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It does not appear that Scher or Van Den Hoek said that 70% of buildings were destroyed since the start of the Israeli-Hamas war. Scher and Van Den Hoek told Check Your Fact in an email their estimate did not say 70% of buildings were destroyed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis 70% estimate is our estimate of the % of buildings likely damaged <b>OR destroyed<\/b> across North Gaza and Gaza governorates; but we otherwise do not know what estimate they are referring to because they do not reference their sources,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n<p>The two also commented on the IDF\u2019s data, saying said data found that \u201c16% of 217,761 permanent structures have been destroyed \u2013 that equals 34,842 buildings. This is only 5% less than the UNOSAT estimate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conflict-damage.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.conflict-damage.org\/&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1719676363692000&#038;usg=AOvVaw0Tr9KMyLY49-z4ODZ1KSxb\">latest estimate<\/a> from June 1 based on a satellite radar analysis indicates that 58.5% of buildings across Gaza are likely <b>damaged OR destroyed,<\/b>\u201d the two added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUNOSAT labels buildings as having \u201csevere,\u201d \u201cmoderate,\u201d and \u201cpossible\u201d damage. The IDF did not release estimates for these other damage categories. But if you include all categories from UNOSAT, the latest UNOSAT assessment concludes that 55% of structures in Gaza have been <b>damaged OR destroyed. <\/b>This is 3.5% different from our estimate,\u201d they further said.<\/p>\n<p>They also referenced a World Bank <a href=\"https:\/\/thedocs.worldbank.org\/en\/doc\/14e309cd34e04e40b90eb19afa7b5d15-0280012024\/original\/Gaza-Interim-Damage-Assessment-032924-Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March assessment<\/a> that found that \u201cmore than 60% of the physical infrastructure in all sectors, except WASH, has been damaged or destroyed\u201d by the end of January.<\/p>\n<p>They stated:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThree different datasets \u2013 UNOSAT, our assessment, and the World Bank \u2014 all converge on similar estimates of damage or destruction across between 55%-60%. If the IDF were to release data on buildings that have been damaged, in addition to what they have marked as completely destroyed, we could more fairly compare their estimates to ours.\u00a0 Since we do not have any insight or detail on the methodologies used by the IDF, and do not have access to their original map of pre-war building footprints, we cannot comment on the accuracy of their work.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Check Your Fact reached out to the IDF, UNOSAT and the WSJ for comment. Check Your Fact also reached out to Ynet through emails associated with the news outlet.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees In The Near East (UNRWA) stated in a post on June 10 that over 50% of buildings in Gaza have been destroyed. However, a fact check revealed that the UNOSAT assessment actually found that 55% of structures in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, not specifically buildings. Additionally, IDF data suggests that only 16% of buildings in Gaza have been destroyed. Other reports, such as those from foreign media and the Wall Street Journal, have different figures regarding the destruction in Gaza. Further research by experts also shows varying estimates of the damage in Gaza<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":2287397,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GettyImages-2158488350-scaled-e1719495342685.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[14599,4856,8147,13420,20083],"class_list":["post-2287396","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-fact-checking","tag-claims","tag-destruction","tag-fact-check","tag-gaza"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GettyImages-2158488350-scaled-e1719495342685.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2287396","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2287396"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2287396\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2287397"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2287396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2287396"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2287396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}