Jolie exposes Gaza's devastation through Google Earth

LOS ANGELES, California — Famed filmmaker and humanitarian Angelina Jolie has opened the world's eyes to the devastating destruction of Gaza during the first three years of the ongoing Israeli military offensive, triggered by the Hamas-led attacks on the Israel-Gaza border on October 7, 2023. In a post on her Instagram page, Jolie revealed that Google Earth has now published images showing the Strip-wide destruction that has all but obliterated the territory. Israel's military actions have displaced two million Palestinians, killed more than 74,000, and injured hundreds of thousands. The injuries—99 percent of them caused by bombs—have been so severe that Gaza has become the number one place in the world for child amputees. "Now you can open Google Earth and see what has been done to Gaza. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble. Homes, schools, universities, hospitals, roads, water and sewage systems... The infrastructure that people need to survive has either been damaged or destroyed," Jolie posted. According to the UN's satellite analysis, as of June 16, 2026, 82 percent of structures in Gaza have been damaged, with approximately two-thirds of those destroyed. "As winter approaches, 1.98 million people—94 percent of Gaza's population—are in need of shelter assistance and basic necessities. The delivery of aid and shelter materials is still facing restrictions and delays," Jolie said. "Google Earth shows the physical destruction with extraordinary clarity. But what it cannot show is what it means to live amid this destruction—what happens to families who have lost loved ones, and what life is like for those who survive." "What happens next is crucial. People need shelter before winter arrives. Humanitarian aid must reach civilians on the necessary scale. Hospitals need medical supplies. And conditions must be created to enable civilians to rebuild their homes, schools, hospitals, and communities," said the Academy Award and triple-Golden Globe winner. "The destruction is visible. The needs are known. What matters now is whether these needs will be met." Angelina Jolie is widely known for her humanitarian efforts. According to Wikipedia, the causes she promotes include conservation, education, and women's rights. She has been noted for her advocacy on behalf of refugees as a special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and has undertaken field missions to refugee camps and war zones worldwide. In addition to receiving a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, among other honors, Jolie was made an honorary Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (DCMG). As a public figure, she has been cited as one of the most powerful and influential people in the American entertainment industry, and various publications have named her the world's most beautiful woman. She is the daught of acclaimed actor Jon Voight, and the former husband of Brad Pitt, with whom she had six children.