Gaza: Tens of thousands of Palestinians have died during Israel's two-year-long assault on Gaza, which has caused severe damage to plant and animal species and halted agricultural, fishing, and livestock activities. Since Oct. 8, 2023, Israel's genocide in the Gaza Strip has killed over 68,200 people, including 20,000 children. Thousands of people displaced by the attacks are struggling to survive in makeshift tents, facing food and water shortages under constant bombardment. They are also vulnerable to mounting waste and toxic debris in streets and alleys.
According to Anadolu Agency, Gaza's natural water resources are being depleted due to overuse in recent years, as reported by the UN Environment Program (UNEP). Groundwater is heavily polluted, with 97% of water samples failing to meet World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards, driven by seawater intrusion and nitrate pollution. Before the attacks, Gaza had three desalination plants, 292 groundwater wells, 54 water reservoirs and pumping stations, and six wastewater treatment plants. By April this year, water storage capacity had dropped by 84%, and wastewater treatment facilities had become inoperable.
The collapse of the sewage system has led to a 36-fold increase in watery diarrhea cases, a 24-fold rise in bloody diarrhea, and a 384-fold surge in Hepatitis A cases, along with a resurgence of polio. According to the WHO, acute respiratory infections and diarrhea accounted for 99% of all diseases in Gaza this year. UNEP satellite analysis shows that between October 2023 and May 2025, most of Gaza's soil and vegetation were destroyed, with severe losses to tree cover, annual crops, shrublands, pastures, and arable land.
Gaza's biodiversity has also been significantly affected. Following the attacks, 90% of coastal dune vegetation, 80% of waterbirds around Wadi Gaza, and 70% of agricultural pollinators have disappeared. Fires and military activity have destroyed habitats of local species, including endemic plants such as Matthiola livida and Atriplex halimus.
In addition to environmental destruction, Israel's attacks have devastated agriculture, with 67% of land directly bombed or used as military zones. Irrigation lines, greenhouses, and cold storage facilities have been largely destroyed, forcing 85% of farmers to abandon production. Poultry farming has nearly come to a halt. Coastal infrastructure also suffered, with 92% destroyed or rendered inoperable, severely impacting the fishing industry and leading to significant declines in fish species and stocks.
The environmental crisis extends to pollution, with air pollution levels in Gaza surpassing measurable limits due to waste burning and targeted fuel depot attacks. UNEP measurements indicate PM2.5 concentrations significantly above normal, with dense black smoke affecting areas like Ashkelon in Israel and El Arish in Egypt. The use of banned weapons by Israel has left irreversible damage, with heavy metals and chemicals affecting agriculture.
Abeer Butmeh, the coordinator of the Palestinian Civil Society Environmental Network, highlighted the drastic changes in life due to the war, emphasizing the reliance on agriculture and the inaccessibility of farmland. Butmeh noted the long-term effects of Israel's use of heavy metals and banned chemicals on agriculture and the environment, with contamination of wells and widespread environmental challenges exacerbated by solid waste accumulation and untreated sewage.