War's Lingering Scars: From Crimea to Gaza, the Human Cost of Conflict
Can satellite imagery bring closure to a family grieving a century-old loss? Jim from Exeter reached out with a poignant request: could we use satellite technology to assess the damage to his grandfather’s grave in Gaza? Walter Chisholm Gracie, a soldier with the Royal Scots Fusiliers, fell during the Second Battle of Gaza in 1917. His final resting place lies within the Gaza War Cemetery, one of two Commonwealth War Graves Commission sites in Gaza, alongside Deir El Belah War Cemetery. These hallowed grounds hold the remains of 3,420 soldiers, predominantly from World War One, a stark reminder of the region's tumultuous past. Gaza witnessed three pivotal battles in 1917 between the British Empire's Egyptian Expeditionary Force and Ottoman troops, battles that shaped the course of history.
I’ve meticulously analyzed recent satellite imagery of these cemeteries, comparing them with 2023 photos. As of September 22nd, the Commission reports approximately 10% of headstones damaged, with detailed information available on their website (https://www.cwgc.org/our-work/caring-for-our-sites/our-sites-in-challenging-locations/). The Gaza War Cemetery has been lovingly tended for a century by the Jaradah family, as highlighted in a 2023 BBC report (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-64344483). Head gardener Ibrahim Jaradah, his team, and their families were evacuated to Egypt over a year ago. Jaradah’s promise, shared in a message, is both heartwarming and poignant: “I promise that once I’m able to enter Gaza again, we’ll work to document everything properly.”
But here's where it gets even more heartbreaking...
Gaza's Devastation Laid Bare: A Ceasefire Reveals the True Cost
With international journalists unable to access Gaza, we’ve relied on the courage of local reporters and photographers to document the aftermath of the recent conflict. Social media videos shared over the weekend paint a grim picture. Khan Younis lies in ruins, with footage matching satellite images of Gamal Abdel Nasser street. In Gaza City, entire neighborhoods in Jabalia and near Sheikh Radwan pond are reduced to rubble. These videos, filmed on Saturday, corroborate satellite imagery taken the same day. A Sunday video from al-Zahara reveals a neighborhood in central Gaza, where at least half the buildings have been destroyed across a vast area. (Image source: Ahmed Kaheel/Instagram/Planet Labs PBC)
And this is the part most people miss...
Crimea's Fuel Depots Under Fire: A Recurring Nightmare
Meanwhile, in occupied Crimea, a familiar scene unfolds. Reports of an overnight drone strike have ignited a massive fire at a fuel depot in Feodosia. A verified photo shows a towering plume of smoke rising from the depot, captured from a residential building near a football field identifiable on Google Earth. This isn’t the first time this facility has been targeted by Ukraine. A similar attack last week sparked a fire, and we previously verified a strike over a year ago. Sergei Aksyonov, the Moscow-installed regional head since Russia’s 2014 annexation, confirmed a Ukrainian drone attack, stating it caused the blaze. He also claimed local air defenses downed over 20 drones. While we couldn’t verify a nighttime image of fires and smoke shared on Telegram due to its timing, it’s clear the situation is volatile. NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (Firms) confirms the depot’s location as a hotspot of intense heat over the past 24 hours. (Image source: NASA)
The Bigger Picture: A World Grappling with Conflict's Aftermath
As we begin this week at BBC Verify Live, we’re confronted with the stark realities of conflict. Verified footage shows the blazing oil storage facility in Crimea, a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions. Meanwhile, in Gaza and Israel, the US-brokered ceasefire has led to the release of all living hostages taken during Hamas’ October 7th attack. In exchange, Israel has released 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained during the war. We’re working to learn more about those released. New satellite imagery reveals the devastating impact of two years of war on Gaza, a story we’ll bring you shortly. Additionally, we’re updating our investigation into a Facebook account that spread AI-generated misinformation following the disappearance of a four-year-old boy in Australia.
A Question for You:
How can we, as a global community, better preserve historical sites like the Commonwealth War Graves in conflict zones? And what responsibility do we have to ensure the stories of those who perished in past wars are not forgotten amidst the devastation of present conflicts? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
