Action Aid: Israel’s aggression against Gaza has created long-term devastating effects on the environment  

The international organization ActionAid warned of the serious environmental disaster caused by the continuous Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, pointing out that it has led to devastating long-term effects on the environment and its biodiversity.

The organization explained in a statement on the occasion of World Environment Day that the Israeli aggression was not only a disaster for the residents of Gaza in terms of the high number of victims and the displacement of more than 85 percent of them, but also a disaster for the environment, leading to a significant increase in land, soil and water pollution and damaged an estimated 55 percent of buildings in the Strip as a result of the bombing. The land was left covered by at least 37 million tons of rubble, most of which are filled with unexploded bombs.

The organization pointed out that the aggression led to the contamination of soil and groundwater due to the leakage of chemicals and toxins from munitions, in addition to the destruction of 42.6 percent of agricultural land by the Israeli occupation aircraft, while satellite images show the destruction and bulldozing of almost half of Gaza’s trees.

The organization’s communications officer, Raham Ja’afari, stated that the Israeli aggression against Gaza since October 7 had not only killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, mostly women and children, but also created a devastating impact on the natural environment and severely disrupted its ecosystems and biodiversity.

“The destruction of agricultural land and greenhouses has made food production almost impossible in Gaza, while people are starving and children are dying due to malnutrition,” Jafari pointed out, adding that the toxic legacy of this aggression will remain alive in the land, soil and water for many years.

Amal Farhat