GHLands : AL-MAWASI, Khan Younis — Palestinian farmer Hani al-Qudra is struggling to preserve the remaining guava trees on his land in southern Gaza, where widespread destruction has severely damaged agricultural areas, water sources and essential farming supplies.
In Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, al-Qudra is harvesting a crop that has fallen to around 30 percent of its pre-war level, amid acute shortages of water and fertilizers. His farm is located about 100 meters from areas occupied by Israeli forces, adding security risks to the challenges facing the harvest.
The text states that Israel has been carrying out what it describes as “genocide” in Gaza since October 8, 2023, and that attacks have continued despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10, 2025.
A harvest reduced to a fraction of its former size
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), around 87 percent of cultivated land in Gaza had been damaged by late September 2025, including approximately 89 percent of orchards and trees.
The latest assessment by the FAO and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), published on August 18, found that only 3 percent of cultivated land remained both accessible and undamaged.
The guava season begins in late August. Al-Qudra and a group of workers are harvesting the fruit that survived the destruction and years of neglect.
“Three years of war, and this is the first season in which we have begun harvesting guavas under conditions that are less severe than before.”
Severe shortages of water, electricity, fertilizers and agricultural supplies have significantly reduced production and made it increasingly difficult for farmers to care for their trees.
“We are struggling to preserve these trees in southern Gaza so they can provide a modest income and help support our families.”
Al-Qudra estimates that the area devoted to guava cultivation in southern Gaza has shrunk from around 2,500 dunums before the war to only about 200 dunums today. On his own farm, this year's production is estimated at just 30 percent of what it once was.
Before the war, agriculture accounted for roughly 10 percent of Gaza’s economy and supported the livelihoods of more than 560,000 people through farming, livestock and fishing, according to the FAO.
Harvesting under fire
Al-Qudra and his workers continue to operate only about 100 meters from an area occupied by Israeli military forces, leaving them exposed to the risk of gunfire and shelling.
“We come in the morning to pick guavas amid random gunfire. During the first hour of the harvest season, I had to send the workers back and leave the area for fear of putting them in danger.”
Despite the ceasefire that has been in effect since October 10, 2025, the supplied report says Israeli forces have expanded their control to around 70 percent of the Gaza Strip.
The FAO says that farmers’ inability to access their land, combined with widespread destruction, is among the main reasons behind the sharp decline in Gaza’s agricultural production.
“We take care of the trees and employ workers, but a single shell fired by the Israeli army could destroy everything.”
“If we don’t work, we don’t eat”
Among those working in the guava fields is Alaa Abu Hassoun, a displaced Palestinian who fled Rafah and now lives in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis.
He works in the fields collecting guavas to provide for his family, despite the dangers surrounding the area.
“We work under bombardment and gunfire, but we are forced to work to secure food and water for our families.”
For Abu Hassoun, the work is not simply a source of income but a matter of survival.
“This is our only source of livelihood. At any moment, we hear gunfire and artillery shells, while drones fly overhead.”
“If we don’t work, we don’t eat.”
He says the leveling of land and destruction of crops and agricultural facilities have wiped out livelihoods across the area, eliminating thousands of job opportunities and leaving many young people unemployed.
Abu Hassoun estimates that around 200 workers in the area lost their livelihoods after agricultural land was leveled and farming facilities were destroyed.
Agriculture amid mass displacement
The agricultural crisis comes as Gaza continues to face a broader humanitarian and economic catastrophe.
The United Nations says that most Palestinians in Gaza remain displaced and are living under extremely harsh conditions. Around 1.98 million people, or 94 percent of the population, need assistance with shelter and basic goods.
Hundreds of thousands of people are living in tents, displacement centers or damaged homes, while facing severe shortages of water and essential services.
According to the World Bank, unemployment in Gaza reached approximately 78 percent in 2025.
With poverty now affecting the majority of the population, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been pushed to rely on food aid and community kitchens.
For farmers such as al-Qudra and workers such as Abu Hassoun, the few remaining guava trees represent more than a seasonal crop. They are a fragile source of income — and a last link to a livelihood that has been devastated by war.
No comments:
Post a Comment