Environmental Destruction in Gaza: A Call to Action on World Environment Day

The current situation in Gaza is dire and distressing, with a continuous barrage of bombings by Israel over the past 34 days. The Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the dropping of at least 30,000 tons of explosives on the oppressed Palestinian people, surpassing the weight estimate of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. The estimated cost of the war, as reported by Al Jazeera, is at least 2 billion dollars.

Israel is conducting precision bombings using depleted uranium, which has long-lasting lethal effects on humanity, persisting for 20 to 30 years. This has transformed Gaza from the world’s largest open-air prison into the biggest killing field. The United Nations and its subsidiary organizations, including UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and the World Health Organization, have issued a joint statement expressing concern over the escalating casualties and destruction in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

The statement emphasizes the urgent need for a ceasefire based on human compassion. The United Nations highlights that Gaza is home to a trapped population facing assaults, deprived of essential items necessary for survival. Bombardments are targeting homes, shelters, hospitals, and places of worship, which is deemed unacceptable.

The heads of the United Nations’ 18 agencies further emphasize the need for an immediate ceasefire after more than 30 days of ongoing violence. Efforts are being made to pressure Israel into agreeing to a ceasefire, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken conducting urgent visits to various countries in the region.

The number of Palestinians killed as a result of the Israeli bombings has exceeded 10,000, including over 4,000 children. This tragedy is beyond words, and it is disheartening to note that it coincided with the observance of a global day to curb environmental exploitation on November 6.

The environmental damage caused by Israel’s aggression extends beyond occupied Palestine to affect Israel itself and other countries in the region. It is worth mentioning that what HAMAS did on October 7, firing 7,000 rockets, can be considered armed resistance under international law, as Palestine belongs to the Arab people and only Palestinians have the right to it. Although, as a result, the loss of innocent lives in the Israeili territory, cannot be condoned from any human perspective. Israel, on the other hand, is seen as an occupier and aggressor. UN General Assembly Resolution 2649 protects all forms of resistance, including armed resistance, against an occupying state. Diplomatic efforts are aimed at garnering support for legitimate resistance fighters.

The United States, aligning with Israel, expresses its intention to eliminate Hamas. The US Secretary of State has addressed Congress, expressing the intent to re-deploy the Palestinian Authority and oust the elected Hamas government from Gaza, ultimately aiming to eliminate Hamas. Sadly, this pursuit has already resulted in the martyrdom of over 10,000 Palestinians, including numerous women and children.

A leaked Israeli paper reveals their intention to evacuate Palestinian Gazans to Egypt and completely clear the area. However, Israel maintains control over the entire strip of land, measuring 11 to 13 kilometers, except for the strip itself, in occupied Palestine.

Speaking of International Day, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on November 6, 2001, to observe a global day for the prevention of environmental exploitation during conflicts and armed confrontations. The purpose of this day is to emphasize the importance of environmental protection during conflicts, such as the ongoing one in Gaza, and armed confrontations, including the situation in Ukraine caused by Russia. Historically, there have been few instances of environmental protection during armed conflicts.

During armed conflicts, the environment suffers in various ways, including deforestation, destruction of buildings, burial of bodies in mass graves, the spread of infections from debris, soil pollution, and water pollution. The Red Cross has been working since 1990 to promote respect for the environment during armed conflicts. The United Nations Environmental Program is also working to control environmental impacts during armed conflicts and integrate environmental safeguards into peacekeeping actions.

The gravest environmental threat resulting from the intense bombings is the increase in global warming and pollution. This has already triggered a melting process and could potentially lead to the gradual sinking of many coastal cities over time. Additionally, the spread of diseases, lack of access to food, water, and electricity, as well as the overall destruction, are severely affecting the people of Palestine. Continuous bombardment has disrupted sleep patterns, with no one able to stay awake for more than three to four hours a day. Living beings are turning into corpses under the rubble, causing irreparable damage to the environment.

Thousands of tons of explosives are being dropped daily in an 11-mile strip, resulting in the tragic death of a child every 5 to 10 minutes. UNICEF’s chief recently highlighted that children in Gaza are dying due to a lack of water, with only 5% of the required amount remaining in their bodies. The trauma experienced is causing women to undergo miscarriages. From an environmental standpoint, the continuous bombings by Israel are not only causing deaths but also generating severe pollution and hindering access to hospitals, raising concerns about the spread of infectious diseases.

Moreover, Israel’s aggression has destroyed fertile lands in Gaza, leading to further environmental problems. The lack of solid ground for settling and the absence of natural resources, due to Israel’s policies, have forced many oppressed Palestinians to leave Palestine over the years.

Three ways to address the Israeli-Hamas conflict at an international level are through international law, which Israel has consistently defied since its inception. Various Security Council agreements bind Israel to grant Palestinians their right to self-determination and end its illegal and unjust occupation of Palestinian land. According to these agreements, the lands seized by Israel in 1967 are considered occupied territories under international law.

Palestine is in desperate need of global assistance. At least 100 aid trucks should be dispatched daily, but due to Israel’s obstinacy, only a fraction of that number is allowed to enter. Estimating the extent of the difficult and intolerable life for Palestinians in Gaza is challenging until the series of bombings comes to a halt.

It is crucial for the global community to unite against Israel’s worst aggression and recognize the severity of the environmental issues at hand. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is essential to prevent further human, financial, and environmental losses.