Google satellite images indicate that 80 percent of the city of Gaza has been destroyed by Israeli bombings since October 7, 2023, according to the United Nations. Some internet users have compared the destructive power of the bombs used to fifteen times that of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945, or 12 times that of the bomb dropped on Nagasaki. The Gaza Government Media Office, which is run by Hamas, claims that nearly 223,000 tons of bombs have been dropped on Gaza, equivalent to 15 times the power of "Little Boy," the American bomb dropped on Hiroshima. However, this figure comes from a source that is viewed with caution. Michel Goya, a former naval officer and historian, estimates that the amount of explosives dropped ranges between 150,000 and 220,000 tons, though he notes that explosives make up about 40 percent of the total weight of bombs. In December 2025, the United Nations estimated that 70,000 tons of explosives had been dropped on Gaza since October 7, which, using Goya's calculation, would be equivalent to about 175,000 tons of bombs. Since then, ten months have passed and the bombings have continued. The power of "Little Boy," the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, is estimated at 15,000 tons of TNT (trinitrotoluene). If 220,000 tons of bombs have been dropped on Gaza, this represents an approximate total power of 88,000 tons, or 5.9 times the bomb of Hiroshima. This estimate was made in April 2025 by Paul Rogers, a professor specializing in paramilitary and defense issues at the University of Bradford. Michel Goya, however, argues that comparing the bombs used in Gaza to the American atomic bombs dropped on Japan is not very relevant. He points out that Hiroshima was the site of a single bomb, which caused 70,000 deaths immediately and approximately 140,000 in total in 1945 due to radiation and injuries. According to Michel Goya, the number of deaths in Gaza is estimated to be a little more than 70,000 so far, with about 50,000 being civilians. The strikes have lasted for three years, and not all deaths were caused by aerial bombings. There were also battles within the city, snipers, and other forms of violence. Goya adds that many of these strikes, although deadly, did not have the sole purpose of killing. As evidence, he notes that the calculation shows about four tons of bombs per civilian killed. This does not lessen the horror of the situation, but it highlights that Israel's objective may also be to destroy infrastructure, sometimes entire blocks of houses or neighborhoods, in order to scare and drive the population away. Many of the damages occurred in areas that were normally evacuated after warnings sent via flyers or SMS to residents. Israeli efforts to destroy Gaza have been massive. With ammunition supplies from the United States and access to nearby air bases, Israel can bomb Gaza "at will." According to the pace of the strikes and the amount of explosives, Michel Goya estimates that several tens of thousands, or even several hundred thousand, projectiles, including extremely heavy devices such as the Mark 84, have been dropped on Gaza since October 7, 2023. In 2011, France conducted its largest air campaign since World War II in Libya, dropping 1,000 projectiles in six months. Here, we are talking about hundreds of thousands, Goya explains. A relentless bombardment that continues while 80 percent of the Gazan population is living in makeshift camps or among the ruins could have a terrible side effect. According to the United Nations, between 5 and 10 percent of the munitions fired by Israel or abandoned by Hamas have not yet exploded. This represents between 3,500 and 7,000 tons of explosive devices scattered in houses, hospitals, and schools, posing a long-term risk to civilians.