By: George Kurzom
https://www.maan-ctr.org/magazine/article/4280/
Agricultural lands in the Gaza Strip before and after the Israeli aggression - AFAQ
Exclusive to Environment and Development Horizons (Afaq magazine):
The Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip caused widespread destruction of agricultural lands, as the soil was severely polluted with bomb remnants and toxic explosives, causing desertification, erosion, and land degradation. Satellite images reveal extensive damage to agricultural lands, orchards, and livestock areas. More than 80% of the agricultural land in the Gaza Strip was destroyed or inaccessible due to Israeli military operations, which affected the so-called “food security” of the population and exacerbated the state of famine imposed by the occupation on the people.
The destruction includes severe structural damage to soil quality, vegetation, and infrastructure necessary for agricultural activities. The soil eroded and deteriorated. The continuous intense Israeli bombing and military operations destroyed the soil structure, compressed it, and caused its erosion, that is, the removal of the upper surface layer, which is rich in organic materials and nutrients, thus losing its productivity. Thus, a large percentage of the fertile lands became unfertile and unsuitable for agriculture.
Israeli weaponry has introduced a new dimension of agricultural land pollution in Gaza, as thousands of unexploded weapons pose a direct threat to farmers and remaining livestock, hindering access to arable land. Heavy metals and chemical contaminants from explosives also exacerbate soil pollution, making vast areas dangerous for agricultural use.
The destruction of agricultural land in Gaza has profound effects on the plant and animal sectors, as crop yields have declined alarmingly due to damaged irrigation systems, the lack of access to the remaining arable land, and pollution. As for livestock breeders, they face unbearable challenges in providing adequate fodder and shelter for animals, amid massive destruction in grazing areas, and the death of most livestock due to their targeting by Israeli forces and the loss of fodder. This disastrous agricultural landscape exacerbated the famine in the Gaza Strip.
The deliberate Israeli targeting of agricultural infrastructure by bombing, destroying, and bulldozing, including greenhouses, farming lands, and orchards in the northern Gaza Strip, aims to deepen the state of famine that is used as a weapon to conquer the Palestinians of the Strip. The widespread Israeli destruction of agricultural land and facilities, and the disruption of food production systems, aim to create conditions conducive to prolonged famine.
Pollutants and military weaponry in agricultural areas pose a fatal threat to crop health and productivity and cause land degradation, desertification, and soil erosion. Heavy metal pollution affects the soil and the quality of crops grown in the area.
The current situation in the Gaza Strip is terrifying and catastrophic, with more than two million people facing famine at varying levels. Pregnant women lack nutrition and health care, putting their lives at risk. Children under the age of five are at high risk of acute malnutrition.
Before the current aggression, farmers in the Gaza Strip, especially in the areas adjacent to the border, were risking their lives while working on their lands. But now, with displacement, constant air strikes, and ground attacks, returning to their lands has become almost impossible.
Prospects and solutions
The destruction of agricultural lands in the Gaza Strip, due to the Israeli aggression, has far-reaching consequences for food production and livelihoods in the region. The need for urgent action to rehabilitate damaged lands is urgent and immediate, as is rapid support for farmers affected by the aggression and ensuring sustainable productive development practices to enhance long-term resilience.
By prioritizing ecosystem restoration and investing in innovative solutions, the Gaza Strip can overcome the enormous challenges posed by the devastation caused by aggression and pave the way for a more sustainable future.
Promoting sustainable agricultural practices, such as ecological or organic agriculture and water conservation methods, helps mitigate environmental degradation while strengthening national food sovereignty. To enhance agricultural productivity, access to water, irrigation systems, efficient use of water, and rehabilitation of desalination plants must be improved.
Moreover, enhancing food sovereignty requires diversifying and promoting crops that are resistant to extreme climate conditions and thus reduce risks. Most importantly, intensifying strategic work to collect, multiply and diversify authentic local seeds and reproduce them locally, to ensure true national food sovereignty, especially in conditions of war and disasters, instead of relying on hybrid seeds imported from the Israeli market and abroad, as was the case even before the Israeli aggression; thus, the outside world controls the process of feeding and starving people.
In conditions of siege and starvation, community initiatives and the involvement of local youth in sustainable agricultural practices and capacity development are of utmost importance in finding long-term solutions.
Translated by: Rasha Abu Dayyeh
