Obviously the target of the presenter is DJ trump's proposal to move an unknown number of Palestinian people from their homes in Gaza.
The video also touched on the role the destruction of natural resources plays in the erasure of a people - on their culture, way of life, and even identity. Ecocide is often a factor in how the IDF conducts their military operations.
The ongoing war on Gaza has inflicted severe environmental damage, affecting air, water, and land, and all who depend on them. The immediate carbon emissions from the war are staggering,
with a mean estimate of 536,410 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the first 120 days of war, 90% of which are attributed to Israel’s air bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza. This is greater than the annual carbon footprint of many climate-vulnerable nations.
Heavy metal contamination has been recorded as a result of intensive bombings.
Air is contaminated with chemicals from weapons like white phosphorus due to the heavy use of explosives, and exposure to white phosphorus munitions, in turn,
leads to decreased productivity of agricultural land, and can harm existing plants.
Water resources have been severely compromised, with around
60,000 cubic metres of untreated sewage and wastewater flowing daily into the Mediterranean Sea. Gaza’s drinking water system, already insufficient before the war, with
90-95% of groundwater undrinkable, is now in a further critical state. On average, in April 2024, Gazans had access to
around 2 to 8 litres per person per day, compared to 85 litres per person per day before October 2023. Research indicates that
20 litres per capita per day is the minimum quantity of safe water required to realise minimum essential levels for health and hygiene.
Land and soil degradation have devastated Gaza’s agrarian society. The destruction of farms and agricultural lands, coupled with
17 years of blockade, which has deprived the region of essential farming inputs, has led to
severe food insecurity. Considering the intensity of the bombardment,
it is highly likely agricultural soils in Gaza are contaminated with heavy metals and other chemicals associated with military equipment and munitions.
57% of Gaza’s cropland has been damaged as of May 2024. And according to the UN,
Israel has reportedly destroyed 70 percent of Gaza’s fishing fleet. Livestock are starving, unable to provide food or be a source of food.
Olive trees, which are crucial in Palestine due to their deep cultural significance and economic importance, providing livelihoods for many families through olive oil production,
have often been deliberately targeted by Israeli soldiers or settlers, becoming a symbol of the suffering of Palestinians dispossessed of their heritage and unable to access their land and crops. The destruction of olive trees is part of a
broader pattern of land and property damage – especially witnessed in the
West Bank – as well as
restrictions that have significant implications for Palestinian livelihoods, food security and the environment.
Public health and the climate crisis: the silent killersPublic health crises and increased vulnerability to the worsening impacts of climate change are silent but deadly consequences of the war. The Middle East and North Africa region is
warming nearly twice as fast as the global average.
At least 1300 Hajj pilgrims in Mecca have died from heat-related illnesses due to extreme temperatures this year.
Gaza, already a climate-vulnerable region, faces worsening conditions due to the war.
Projections indicate that temperatures could rise by 4°C by the century’s end, exacerbating erratic rainfall, heatwaves, and droughts.
A recent heatwave in April highlighted the dire conditions for the displaced population, with several people dying from the heat.
Public health infrastructure, already weakened by years of blockade, is collapsing under the strain of the war.
Sewage, wastewater and solid waste management systems and facilities have collapsed.
Thousands of tons of solid waste are accumulating in informal dumpsites across Gaza, and untreated sewage is freely flowing into the sea. The spread of diseases like skin infections, Hepatitis A, and diarrhoea is increasing, with
a potential epidemic threatening thousands of lives. Attacks on hospitals and blockades on medical supplies have crippled Gaza’s healthcare system, leaving millions in urgent need of humanitarian aid. The
presence of decaying bodies further increases the risk of cholera outbreaks.
Children whose immune systems and lack of food is making them perilously weak, are particularly at risk.
Environmental consequences of the war in Gaza also harm neighbouring countriesThe environmental impact of the war extends beyond Gaza, affecting neighbouring countries like Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Egypt is experiencing
pollution in North Sinai and along its Mediterranean coastline, with potential harm to fish stocks, marine life, and groundwater reserves.
Air quality has also declined, affecting public health. Jordan too is facing rising air pollution due to its proximity to Gaza.
Lebanon, particularly its southern border areas, suffers from
war-related agricultural damage, chemical pollution, and contamination from explosive remnants. There too, a preliminary assessment indicated that white phosphorus shelling
has caused extensive environmental harm, impacting natural ecosystems, water quality and posing threats to human health and livestock.
Israel to bear costs of environmental devastation under International Law Although
the natural environment is protected under International Humanitarian Law, it continues to be a “silent casualty of war”. The environmental devastation in Gaza violates multiple international laws and conventions designed to protect the environment during armed conflict. The Rome Statute and Geneva Conventions highlight that
intentional environmental destruction can constitute a war crime.
Concepts such as “ecocide” have been used by experts and NGOs to describe the ongoing deliberate destruction of Gaza’s environment.
A recent satellite analysis reveals that “the scale and long-term impact of the destruction have led to calls for it to be investigated as a potential war crime, and to be classed as ecocide, which covers damage done to the environment by deliberate or negligent actions.”
International law requires Israel to bear the cost of rebuilding Gaza, given its
recognised responsibility as an occupying power.
Gaza’s “unprecedented destruction will take tens of billions of dollars and decades to reverse”Recent reports attempted to quantify the damage incurred, the time needed and the cost of repairing and reconstructing Gaza’s economy, environment, buildings, primary infrastructure, among others.
An
Interim Damage Assessment by the World Bank states that the total cost of damages as of end of January 2024, was approximately US$ 18.5 Billion, the damage already sustained in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector is assessed at over US$ 500 Million; another US$ 629 Million in the agriculture sector, and US$ 411 Million in the environmental sector (including the removal of rubble).
An analysis by researchers in the UK and US
said that the carbon cost of rebuilding Gaza will be greater than the annual greenhouse gas emissions generated individually by 135 countries.
According to the
UNCTAD, Gaza’s “unprecedented destruction will take tens of billions of dollars and decades to reverse”. A UNDP
report says “the level of destruction in Gaza is such that rebuilding public infrastructure would require external assistance on a scale not seen since 1948”, the report also states that Gaza needs approximately 80 years to restore all the fully destroyed housing units, following the same reconstruction patterns as the last two escalations.
As Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza continues, thousands of Palestinians continue to drown in death and disease. The environmental devastation in Gaza, however, is an often overlooked but critical aspect of the ongoing genocide by Israel on Palestine. The relentless assaults on Gaza have not only caused immense human suffering but have also inflicted severe and lasting damage on the environment, transforming the region into a toxic wasteland. This environmental demolition, referred to as "ecocide," is a deliberate strategy that compounds the humanitarian crisis and poses a long-term threat to the region's sustainability and the health of its inhabitants.
Gaza's environment has been repeatedly subjected to catastrophic damage. Following a 50-day war in 2014, Palestinian environmental engineer Abeer al-Butmeh and her organization PENGON-FoE Palestine discovered that many agricultural areas targeted by Israeli missiles had become infertile (Ali). Their environmental impact assessment revealed degraded air quality with high levels of particulate matter and lead, and significant losses in wildlife populations. Fishermen reported changes in fish availability, indicating a broader ecological disruption (Ali).
Following October 7, the continuing attacks on civilians, infrastructure, and agriculture, have only worsened the environmental crisis. Northern Gaza, which was once two-thirds agricultural land, is now completely decimated. Lush strawberry fields, olive trees, and lemon trees have all been wiped out by the well over 80,000 tons of bombs Israel has dropped on the Gaza strip (Pernot). Moreover, David R. Boyd, the UN special rapporteur for human rights and the environment, noted that Israel's military operations result in massive carbon pollution, contaminating air, water, and soil with toxic substances. These operations have destroyed Gaza's water and sanitation infrastructure, exacerbating the already dire water crisis. Nearly all drinking water in Gaza is unfit for human consumption, and the destruction of desalination plants has left the population dependent on unsafe water sources (Ali).
The environmental impact of war is indiscriminate and far-reaching. Samira Homerang Saunders documents that Gaza's soil contains radioactive and carcinogenic elements, such as depleted uranium and phosphates, embedded in the rubble reused for reconstruction. The use of white phosphorus by Israeli forces has led to severe environmental and health consequences, with long-term exposure causing respiratory diseases and cancer (Saunders).
The concept of "ecocide" first gained prominence during the Vietnam War, when the use of chemical weapons by US forces caused widespread environmental destruction. Similar tactics have been employed in Gaza, with the use of white phosphorus and other toxic substances resulting in long-term environmental and health impacts. This pattern of environmental degradation as a tool of “warfare” raises serious ethical and legal concerns, demanding accountability and justice for the affected populations (Saunders).
The environmental crisis in Gaza is a stark reminder of the interconnectedness between genocide, environmental degradation, and human suffering. As international bodies continue to document and condemn these environmental crimes, it is imperative to push for comprehensive assessments and restoration efforts. Holding those responsible accountable for their actions is crucial to preventing further ecological and humanitarian disasters. However, it all begins with a permanent ceasefire now!
25 Mar 2025, 10:04 am
