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Nearly 90 % of Gaza's Primary Roads Are Impassable After Two Years of Bombardment

  //automotive-transportation.news-articles.net/co .. e-impassable-after-two-years-of-bombardment.html
  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Friday, November 21st 2025 at 19:46 GMT by Associated Press
      Locale: PALESTINIAN TERRITORY OCCUPIED

Gaza’s Transportation Network on the Brink of Collapse: A 500‑Word Summary

The Associated Press video‑report titled “Gaza transport system near collapse after 2 years of bombardment, destroyed roads and infrastructure” (https://apnews.com/video/gaza-transport-system-near-collapse-after-2-years-of-bombardment-destroyed-roads-infrastructure-86868906421b48db884ad08e4b70ff72) chronicles the dire state of Gaza’s roads, bridges, tunnels and public transport systems after almost two years of relentless Israeli air strikes and ground operations. The report—accompanied by a series of on‑the‑ground footage, drone‑shots of shattered highways, and interviews with residents, aid workers and UN officials—offers a sobering look at how the infrastructure that sustains daily life has been systematically dismantled.

1. The Scope of Destruction

The video opens with sweeping shots of asphalt crushed to rubble, concrete pillars twisted, and a network of roads that once connected Gaza City with Khan Younis, Rafah and beyond. The AP article cites a UN‑led assessment that nearly 90 % of Gaza’s primary roadways are impassable. Bridges over the Gaza River have been demolished, and the only remaining viable crossing into Egypt—Rafah—has been temporarily blocked by Israeli forces.

A recurring theme throughout the video is the destruction of the tunnel system that once provided safe, discreet routes for civilians and goods. The tunnels, used extensively before the war, were targeted by Israeli drones, leaving many of them collapsed and buried under sand. The video shows workers attempting to salvage a few sections, but the effort is hampered by ongoing shelling.

2. Human Impact: Everyday Life in Chaos

A key segment focuses on the plight of ordinary Palestinians. The reporter speaks to a Gaza City resident who describes the route to the local hospital as “a one‑way street that goes nowhere.” Because the main arterial road is blocked, patients must walk up to 10 km on foot or bicycle, often in the open air where Israeli patrols and shelling are a constant threat.

The video includes an interview with a mother of three who has lost her husband in the fighting. She explains that food deliveries have become impossible. “We can’t bring in new food because the trucks can’t get through,” she says, pointing to a pile of abandoned trucks and a partially destroyed customs checkpoint at the Rafah border.

The UN’s humanitarian department, represented by a senior officer in the video, underscores that transport bottlenecks directly impede aid distribution. “Every day, a truck that could bring in medicine, fuel or food is either delayed, destroyed, or turned away,” she notes. This bottleneck has already led to shortages of essential supplies, including oxygen for hospitals and antibiotics for treating wounds.

3. The Role of International Actors

The report delves into the diplomatic angle, linking the destruction of transport infrastructure to Israel’s broader military strategy. A brief clip references an AP article that quotes Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) statements that “targets are military installations,” while acknowledging that civilian infrastructure is collateral damage. The IDF’s narrative is countered in the video by UN statements highlighting that civilian roads are essential for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and their destruction is a violation of international law.

The video also includes a link to a World Health Organization (WHO) briefing on the “health crisis in Gaza.” The WHO notes that the collapse of the transportation network has made it infeasible for ambulance services to reach patients in time, exacerbating the casualty rate. A second link—an AP piece on the “Gaza water crisis”—shows how damaged transport routes impede the delivery of desalination plant materials and fuel, further crippling the already strained water supply.

4. Attempts at Mitigation and Ongoing Challenges

The AP report highlights several initiatives aimed at restoring movement. The Palestinian Authority has requested the reopening of the Rafah crossing, and humanitarian agencies are negotiating “humanitarian corridors” with Israeli forces. However, the video’s commentary suggests that these efforts are largely symbolic, as the crossing has remained closed for more than a month, with occasional brief openings that quickly shut down again.

An aid worker in the video points out that even when routes are cleared, fuel shortages (a result of the destruction of gas pipelines and storage tanks) mean that many vehicles cannot operate. The video also shows how local communities have resorted to makeshift “bike routes” that navigate through debris-littered streets, a hazardous workaround that underscores the scale of the crisis.

5. Looking Ahead

The final portion of the report poses a stark question: “What does it take to restore Gaza’s transport system?” Experts quoted in the video suggest that full reconstruction would require hundreds of millions of dollars and a sustained cease‑fire that allows construction crews to operate without fear of attack. They also emphasize that any rebuild must involve local labor to ensure that the system meets the community’s actual needs, rather than simply reconstructing the previous infrastructure.

In closing, the Associated Press video underscores that Gaza’s transport network is not merely a set of roads and bridges—it is the lifeline that sustains medical care, food distribution, and the day‑to‑day survival of its people. With the war continuing, the report’s imagery and voices serve as a chilling reminder that the region’s humanitarian crisis is only deepening, as essential infrastructure crumbles under relentless bombardment.