The Devastation of Gaza Today 21 November 2012

Today Israel bombed the Abu Khadra Civil Affairs Department building of the Ministry of the Interior, completely destroying the entire building. The building was not used by Hamas, indeed it is governmental and not political, but was a vestige of the infrastructure left by the Israelis. Gaza city residents would use this building to acquire travel permits, identification cards, to visit the courts, and numerous other activities. This building was housed in the very center of Gaza City and was actually bombed before in the 2008 to 2009 Israeli Operation Cast Lead attacks on Gaza. Nearby offices were also affected by the airstrike, including Al Jazeera's bureau office and AP's office.

The mosque next to the demolished Abu Khadra Civil Affairs Department building overlooks the damage

The complete devastation left from the airstrike on the civil services building contrasts starkly with the downtown life of Gaza City

Emergency crews clear the street of the damage wrought by an Israeli airstrike on the Abu Khadra building

The mosque overlooks the destruction left by an Israeli airstrike on the Abu Khadra bulding

The Abu Khadra building is completely flattened by the Israeli airstrike attacking it this morning

Power lines all around the area where the airstrike attacked the Abu Khadra building feel, endangering citizens and losing power for several buildings.

The only thing left standing after the demolition of the Civil Affairs building after the Israeli airstrike is a lone shrub

An employee views the destruction of the Abu Khadra building from his nearby apartment

PHOTO CREDITS: Mohamed Zaanoun

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