Now look at that statement carefully. “66% of the total” Wow that sounds so bad! But then, “Of these 78% were completely destroyed or severely or moderately damaged”

First note how they conflate “complete destroyed” with “severely” or even “moderately” damaged. What is “moderately” damaged, a couple bulletholes? And what about the 22% of the 66% that were not even “moderately” damaged? That is near 15% of the total buildings. I’m not saying Israel did not wreak tremendous destruction on Gaza. I am saying these numbers are about as reliable as the casualty numbers from the, ahem, “Gaza health authorities”.

DuckDuckGo: Gaza destroyed or damaged

Reuters, Oct 6

According to a damage assessment from UNOSAT, 163,778 structures were damaged in the Gaza Strip based on images taken on Sept. 3 and Sept. 6 amounting to 66% of the total. Of these, 78% were completely destroyed or severely or moderately damaged.

NPR, Oct 10

It’s estimated that nearly 60% of buildings in the enclave have been damaged or destroyed, according to satellite data analysis by Corey Scher of the City University of New York’s Graduate Center and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University.

NYT Oct 7

Nearly 60 percent of buildings have been damaged or destroyed in the besieged enclave, an area about half the size of New York City. Videos and images from before and after the war started in some of the hardest hit areas — including Khan Younis, Gaza City and Jabaliya — reveal the magnitude of ruin across the strip.

My “offhand estimate” of 75% stands corrected, but my point stands that the threat of further destruction of Gaza is somewhat empty, as there is little left to be destroyed.

Further destruction of Iran–that’s another story. 🙂

>Stop destroying us (at least for a while) and we will release a few hostages.

Hamas needs to be eradicated. Which means Israel cannot let up for a moment. No pause. No ceasefire. No breathing room. And possibly no returned hostages.

Although I understand the natural desire people have to see their loved ones survive and return.

Which brings up the question: what more is there left to destroy in Gaza? I would estimate offhand that 75% of the buildings in Gaza have already been damaged or destroyed. Do we drop big bombs on the tunnels?

I am reminded of the decision regarding which Japanese city or cities should the US target with the atomic bomb. As firebombing had already pretty much destroyed Tokyo, there was no point in targeting Tokyo with the atomic bomb.