War-related urban destruction is a significant global concern, impacting national security, social stability, people’s survival, and economic development. The effects of urban geomorphology and complex geological contexts during conflicts, characterized by different levels of structural damage, are not yet fully understood globally. Here we report how integrating deep learning with data from the independently developed LuoJia3-01 satellite enables near real-time detection of explosions and assessment of different building damage levels in the Israel-Palestine conflict. We found that the damage continually increased from October 17, 2023, to March 2, 2024. We found 3,747 missile craters with precision positions and sizes, and timing on vital infrastructure across five governorates in the Gaza Strip on March 2, 2024, providing accurate estimates of potential unexploded ordnance locations and assisting in demining and chemical toxins. Our findings reveal a significant increase in damage to residential and educational structures, accounting for 58.4% of the total: 15.4% are destroyed, 18.7% are severely damaged, 11.8% are moderately damaged, and 12.5% minor damage, which exacerbates the housing crisis and potential population displacement. Additionally, there is a 34.1% decline in the cultivated area of agricultural land, posing a risk to food security. The LuoJia3-01 satellite data is crucial for impartial conflict monitoring, and our innovative methodology offers a cost-effective, scalable approach to assess future conflicts in various global contexts. These first-time findings highlight the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further damage and support the release of hostages and subsequent reconstruction efforts. |
