Sentinel-1 coherence loss analysis for damage assessment in conflict areas: Evidence from the Gaza strip following October 7th 2023

We investigate the spatial and temporal dynamics of destruction across the Gaza Strip during the Middle East conflict that escalated sharply after the Hamas incursion into southern Israel on 7 October 2023 and subsequent Israeli airstrikes. Leveraging Synthetic Aperture Radar time series compiled from Sentinel-1 imagery, we derive data-driven assessments of conflict-related damage in an exceptionally hostile and data-scarce environment. Our primary objectives are to map the distribution of destroyed structures and reconstruct the timeline of damage progression. We employ coherence loss analysis to identify structural damage based on the satellite-derived temporal signatures. The workflow encompassed systematic data preprocessing, spatial analysis, and result validation against UNOSAT datasets to ensure reliability.

Pre-conflict analysis indicated that more than half of all structures were undamaged or only lightly affected, with 31% showing major damage. By late 2023, this distribution had shifted markedly: the proportion of undamaged or lightly affected buildings dropped to 22%, while severely damaged structures rose to 32% and completely destroyed buildings accounted for 10%. The damage further intensified through mid-2025, with severely damaged and destroyed buildings collectively representing over 80% of all assessed structures—highlighting a sustained and accelerating pattern of devastation.

The analysis reveals that the entire Gaza Strip experienced extensive structural loss, with densely populated urban areas emerging as persistent damage hotspots. By May 2025, all five districts displayed comparable destruction levels, though with distinct temporal trajectories. The near-total absence of intact or lightly damaged structures in multiple urban cores underscores the systematic and prolonged nature of bombardments, reflecting a transformation of the urban fabric unprecedented in recent conflict-driven damage assessments.