GAZA CITY, 3 July 2024 – The agricultural sector in Gaza has been severely impacted since the onset of the Hamas-Israeli war on October 7, with Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) destroying much of the arable land in the region. This destruction has crippled the agricultural productivity of the Gaza Strip, leading to a severe food crisis.

According to a report by Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera, nearly all of Gaza's fertile fields have been decimated by the Israeli military's actions. As a result, the ability to grow food grains has been almost entirely wiped out. This is particularly devastating as the summer season is usually a peak time for farming activities in Gaza.

The UN has raised alarms about the dire food security situation in Gaza. According to their report, at least 96 percent of Gaza's population is consuming unsafe food, with one in five Palestinians experiencing hunger on a daily basis. This equates to roughly 500,000 people suffering from starvation within Gaza.

Al Jazeera's investigative report, which includes satellite image analysis, corroborates these findings. The analysis shows that over half of Gaza's agricultural land has been destroyed in the past nine months due to Israeli military operations. More than 60 percent of the arable land in the valley has sustained severe damage.

The destruction of Gaza's agricultural infrastructure poses a significant risk of long-term food shortages for its residents. The continuous conflict and resultant devastation are pushing Gaza's food security towards a catastrophic situation.

The international community and humanitarian organizations are being urged to address the escalating food crisis in Gaza. Immediate intervention is necessary to prevent further deterioration of the living conditions in the region and to provide relief to the suffering population.

The ongoing conflict has severely affected Gaza's agriculture, leading to widespread food insecurity and hunger among its residents. With a substantial portion of its arable land destroyed, Gaza faces a prolonged food crisis that demands urgent international attention and aid.