Gaza's Environment Under Pressure: War Leaves an Environmental Crisis Beyond Physical Destructio

 الأراضي المقدسة الخضراء / GHLands

UNRWA : Tons of waste in Gaza

The impact of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip has extended far beyond human and infrastructural losses, reaching an environment that is now facing one of the most severe crises in its modern history. As destruction has spread across the territory and infrastructure has suffered extensive damage, waste accumulation and massive amounts of rubble have emerged as major threats to public health and natural resources.

Palestinian and international estimates indicate that hundreds of thousands of tons of household waste have accumulated across the Strip, alongside more than 57 million tons of rubble generated by the destruction of large residential areas. Damage to municipal equipment and vehicles has further weakened local authorities' ability to collect and manage waste, contributing to the spread of uncontrolled dumping sites and increasing environmental and health risks.

Agriculture Facing Collapse

The agricultural sector has also suffered significant consequences. Satellite-based assessments conducted by the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) found that more than 86 percent of Gaza's agricultural land had sustained varying degrees of damage by mid-2025, while damage in some northern areas reached nearly 94 percent.

Land leveling operations, bombardment, and damage to agricultural wells and greenhouses have sharply reduced production capacity, directly affecting food security for the population. Subsequent United Nations reports also indicated that the amount of agricultural land that remains accessible and usable has become extremely limited compared with pre-war levels, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of local food production.

The War's Carbon Footprint

Another dimension of the crisis is the significant increase in carbon emissions resulting from military operations, the use of heavy machinery, and transportation and relief activities. Estimates suggest that the war-related carbon footprint has reached tens of millions of tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e), a volume comparable to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of entire countries.

Environmental experts warn that the consequences of these emissions are not confined to Gaza alone. They contribute to broader climate change challenges at a time when international concerns are growing over the need to address pollution and high-emission activities associated with armed conflicts.

Challenges of Environmental Recovery

Despite local and international efforts to address the environmental consequences of the war, the recovery process continues to face major obstacles. Among the most pressing challenges are the enormous volume of rubble, shortages of equipment and fuel, and the ongoing threat posed by unexploded ordnance.

According to international estimates, clearing the debris and rehabilitating damaged areas could take many years and require investments worth billions of dollars. Specialists argue that Gaza's reconstruction should not be limited to rebuilding homes and infrastructure. It must also include a comprehensive plan to restore damaged ecosystems, protect natural resources, and rehabilitate agricultural lands in order to create an environment that is more resilient to future crises.