Between geocide and genocide, 'Israel' rendering Gaza uninhabitable

Analysis from satellite imagery, as reported by The Guardian, illustrates extensive damage to farms and the destruction of nearly half of Gaza’s trees.

Palestinians walk through the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP)

Satellite analysis indicated extensive devastation to farms and the destruction of almost half of Gaza’s trees due to the ongoing Israeli aggression, The Guardian reported.

Experts warned, as cited by the report, that alongside worsening air and water pollution, the Israeli assault on Gaza’s ecosystems has rendered the area uninhabitable.

The report emphasized that the complete extent of damage in Gaza remains undocumented; however, analysis of satellite imagery shared with The Guardian revealed the devastation, with approximately 38-48% of tree cover and farmland destroyed.

Olive groves and agricultural lands have been rendered barren, while soil and groundwater are contaminated by munitions and toxins. The sea is overwhelmed with sewage and waste, and the air is polluted by smoke and particulate matter.

This year we’ve been deprived of olive oil due to the occupation uprooting the trees pic.twitter.com/O6WO3pTD7Y

— 𓂆 Mahmoud in Gaza🇵🇸 (@MahmoudAbed_sm) March 21, 2024

Researchers and environmental groups warned that the destruction will have significant repercussions on Gaza’s ecosystems and biodiversity, as per the report.

‘Ecocide in Gaza’: Another war crime

Due to the scale and potential long-term impact of the damage, there are calls for it to be classified as “ecocide” and investigated as a potential war crime, as per The Guardian.

Satellite imagery, along with photos and video footage captured on the ground, vividly depict the devastation inflicted on Gaza’s farmland, orchards, and olive groves during the war.

He Yin, an assistant professor of geography at Kent State University in the US, analyzed satellite imagery. The analysis revealed that up to 48% of Gaza’s tree cover had been lost or damaged between October 7 and March 21.

In further detail, Forensic Architecture (FA), an independent research group based in London, conducted its own satellite analysis, yielding similar findings.

Prior to October 7, farms and orchards encompassed approximately 170 square kilometers (65 square miles), representing 47% of Gaza’s total land area. By the end of February, FA estimates based on satellite data indicated that Israeli military operations had destroyed over 65 square kilometers, equivalent to 38% of that land.

In addition to cultivated areas, Gaza’s agricultural infrastructure included more than 7,500 greenhouses, which played a crucial role in the region’s economy. FA’s analysis suggested that nearly a third of these greenhouses have been destroyed, with destruction ranging from up to 90% in northern Gaza to approximately 40% around Khan Younis.

‘Israel’ commits genocide & environmental crimes, uproots 55,000 trees

Earlier this month, the local municipality of al-Zaytoun neighborhood east of Gaza City witnessed extensive environmental damage caused by the Israeli occupation state, with approximately 55,000 trees uprooted and nine public parks, including a zoo, destroyed.

At the time, the local council has called on international environmental organizations and concerned bodies to swiftly intervene, urging them to condemn the occupation’s environmental crimes, assist in the reconstruction of damaged facilities, protect trees and wildlife, and provide essential resources like food and water.