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).