Gaza is now under a tenuous ceasefire, established just over two years following the onset of conflict. The war has caused widespread destruction across Gaza, with the United Nations projecting rebuilding costs at an estimated sum, indicating a lengthy path to recuperation for the area.

Beyond human toll, the hostilities have resulted in significant environmental damage. A recent report issued by the Arava Institute, an academic and research entity focused on fostering environmental peace in the Middle East, indicates that the conflict has damaged around 69% of Gaza’s infrastructure and dismantled its water and energy networks.

Prior to the conflict’s eruption, residents of Gaza were already grappling with numerous environmental issues. According to David Lehrer, director of applied environmental diplomacy at the Arava Institute, “The environmental and humanitarian conditions in Gaza before October 7, 2023, were already poor.”

Lehrer explained that Gaza experienced an energy shortfall, obtaining only half of its required energy, and 95% of its water supply was contaminated. He further noted that the region contended with other environmental dangers, including illnesses and air and soil contamination due to inadequate waste management.

The conflict exacerbated these existing challenges. Israel’s blockade on Gaza resulted in a fuel scarcity, which in turn forced the closure of critical infrastructure like water and wastewater treatment facilities, vital for both environmental and public well-being. (Reports indicate that even with the ceasefire, Israel has not permitted fuel or gas into Gaza as of October 14.) Water access drastically decreased to merely 8.4 liters (2.2 gallons) per person daily, significantly below the World Health Organization’s emergency threshold of 15 liters (3.9 gallons). Untreated raw sewage, accumulating throughout the conflict, is polluting the shared aquifer between Gaza, Israel, and Egypt, thus fostering an environment ripe for waterborne disease epidemics.

The report also states that over 80% of agricultural land has suffered damage or complete destruction, intensifying concerns about food security and the region’s capacity for self-sustenance.

Lehrer remarked, “The war has severely impaired land productivity. Vegetable-producing fields that served the local market have been obliterated. Extensive areas have been struck by munitions, releasing various toxic gases that permeate the soil.”

This report, which updates an earlier assessment of the war’s environmental and humanitarian effects, draws its findings from research by global bodies such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization, in addition to accounts provided by aid workers.

Researchers have proposed a three-stage recovery plan: an absorptive phase, focusing on immediate humanitarian assistance, emergency housing, and essential water, sanitation, and hygiene services; an adaptive phase, involving independent renewable energy solutions and decentralized water purification; and a transformative phase, dedicated to ecosystem restoration and integrating climate resilience into future strategies.

Lehrer emphasized the importance of establishing environmentally sound systems during the recovery transition. “The global community must consider how to implement temporary living models that avoid exacerbating environmental issues,” Lehrer stated. “This includes developing systems that, for instance, treat and recycle wastewater for agriculture, desalinate water for potable use, or generate electricity via solar power, instead of relying on polluting diesel generators.”

The report highlights that several technologies are currently being tested in Gaza, such as modular solar microgrids, atmospheric water production units, biofiltration systems for wastewater, urban farming projects, and construction materials derived from recycled debris.

Given the precarious ceasefire, Lehrer asserts that the recovery efforts must prioritize long-term sustainability and self-sufficiency.

He added, “It will take many years for Palestinians in Gaza to regain stable housing. They require sustainable living arrangements that fulfill all their basic necessities, such as energy, water, and food security.”