Mass destruction caused by Israeli bombings on the Gaza Strip in Israel's genocide war on the strip as it killed more than 30,000 people- photo from Palestinian journalist.
CAIRO – 15 August 2024: The ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza has devastated the region’s biodiversity, putting at risk 150 to 200 species of birds, including those endemic and migratory species in the Gaza Valley, which serves as a crucial stopover for birds migrating to and from Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Additionally, 20 species of mammals and 25 species of reptiles are facing complete extinction.
This ecological disaster comes at a time when global efforts are focused on preserving biodiversity, starkly highlighting the environmental toll of the conflict.
Impact of War on Migratory Birds and Wildlife
Engineer Bahjat Jabarin, Director of Monitoring and Inspection at the Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority, emphasized the grave impact of the war on Gaza’s environment. He explained that the Gaza Valley, a vital ecological zone for migratory birds, has been severely affected.
The ongoing conflict has led to the death and displacement of these birds, destroying their nests and habitats. Jabarin noted that Gaza once hosted at least 250 bird species, all of which are now nearly extinct.
The region has also lost its population of 20 mammal species and 25 reptile species, as a result of the war’s direct and indirect effects, including bombing, destruction, and environmental disturbance.
Destruction of Livestock and Agriculture in Gaza
Jabarin further highlighted the devastation of Gaza’s livestock sector, where 650 animal farms—ranging from large to small operations for beef, dairy, sheep, and poultry—have been completely destroyed.
Gaza, once home to farms raising ducks, geese, and chickens, is now devoid of both wild and domesticated animals. The combined effects of pollution from wastewater, solid waste, heavy metals from weapons, and airborne particles from the bombings have led to a near-total annihilation of the region’s biodiversity.
Environmental Consequences of War on Gaza’s Ecosystem
The Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority’s report underscored the long-term damage inflicted on Gaza’s biodiversity. The use of various explosives and weapons has destroyed wildlife habitats, killed animals, and burned plant life, including native trees, shrubs, and grasses.
This destruction has caused irreversible damage, leading to the permanent loss of certain species, a phenomenon known as extinction.
The conflict has also polluted Gaza’s water, air, and soil, turning the land into mountains of mixed waste, much of which has ended up in the sea, further degrading the ecosystem.
The Gaza Valley: From Sanctuary to Graveyard
Once a crucial habitat for migratory birds, the Gaza Valley has been transformed into a graveyard for all forms of life due to the use of internationally banned weapons by Israeli forces. This destruction has obliterated one of the world’s key bird migration routes, where millions of birds once rested, fed, and sometimes bred.
The Impact on Marine Life and Beyond
Jabarin also explained that the marine life along Gaza’s 40-kilometer coastline has been devastated, with the sea now lifeless up to a depth of one kilometer due to pollution from sewage, solid waste, and the fallout from bombings.
This environmental disaster is not confined to Gaza, as the effects are expected to reach neighboring countries, including Egypt and other coastal areas of the Mediterranean, where the destruction of marine life could spread.
The war has also led to disturbing behavioral changes in surviving wildlife. As Jabarin noted, some animals have been seen attacking the bodies of those killed in the conflict due to extreme hunger and thirst, indicating a significant shift in behavior.
The long-term effects of the war could prevent the reproduction of remaining species or result in mutations and deformities due to the pervasive pollution.
UN Biodiversity Conference: Ignored Amid the Destruction
Despite the decisions made during the 15th UN Biodiversity Conference in December 2022 in Canada, which included protecting 30% of the planet’s land, coastal, and marine areas, these efforts have been disregarded by Israeli forces. The destruction of natural reserves like the Gaza Valley continues, leading to the death of many species and the obliteration of plant life in the region.
Continuous Environmental Degradation in Gaza
A study by the Applied Research Institute in Jerusalem titled "The Environmental Reality in Occupied Gaza Amid Israeli War" highlights the widespread destruction of infrastructure, particularly environmental, in Gaza.
The Israeli occupation’s repeated wars have led to significant pollution and made vast areas of Gaza unsuitable for agriculture.
The use of various explosives has released toxic gases, severely impacting public health and contributing to the ongoing environmental degradation.
The destruction of Gaza’s biodiversity is a stark reminder of the broader environmental consequences of war. As the region's ecosystems continue to deteriorate, the global community must act to protect and restore what remains of Gaza’s natural environment.
He explained that the Gaza Valley, a vital ecological zone for migratory birds, has been severely affected. The ongoing conflict has led to the death and displacement of these birds, destroying their nests and habitats. Jabarin noted that Gaza once hosted at least 250 bird species, all of which are now nearly extinct.
The region has also lost its population of 20 mammal species and 25 reptile species, as a result of the war’s direct and indirect effects, including bombing, destruction, and environmental disturbance.
Destruction of Livestock and Agriculture in Gaza
Jabarin further highlighted the devastation of Gaza’s livestock sector, where 650 animal farms—ranging from large to small operations for beef, dairy, sheep, and poultry—have been completely destroyed.
Gaza, once home to farms raising ducks, geese, and chickens, is now devoid of both wild and domesticated animals. The combined effects of pollution from wastewater, solid waste, heavy metals from weapons, and airborne particles from the bombings have led to a near-total annihilation of the region’s biodiversity.
Environmental Consequences of War on Gaza’s Ecosystem
The Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority’s report underscored the long-term damage inflicted on Gaza’s biodiversity. The use of various explosives and weapons has destroyed wildlife habitats, killed animals, and burned plant life, including native trees, shrubs, and grasses.
This destruction has caused irreversible damage, leading to the permanent loss of certain species, a phenomenon known as extinction. The conflict has also polluted Gaza’s water, air, and soil, turning the land into mountains of mixed waste, much of which has ended up in the sea, further degrading the ecosystem.
Once a crucial habitat for migratory birds, the Gaza Valley has been transformed into a graveyard for all forms of life due to the use of internationally banned weapons by Israeli forces. This destruction has obliterated one of the world’s key bird migration routes, where millions of birds once rested, fed, and sometimes bred.
Jabarin also explained that the marine life along Gaza’s 40-kilometer coastline has been devastated, with the sea now lifeless up to a depth of one kilometer due to pollution from sewage, solid waste, and the fallout from bombings.
This environmental disaster is not confined to Gaza, as the effects are expected to reach neighboring countries, including Egypt and other coastal areas of the Mediterranean, where the destruction of marine life could spread.
The war has also led to disturbing behavioral changes in surviving wildlife. As Jabarin noted, some animals have been seen attacking the bodies of those killed in the conflict due to extreme hunger and thirst, indicating a significant shift in behavior.
The Israeli occupation’s repeated wars have led to significant pollution and made vast areas of Gaza unsuitable for agriculture. The use of various explosives has released toxic gases, severely impacting public health and contributing to the ongoing environmental degradation.
Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority's Statement
On July 4, the Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority released a statement detailing the catastrophic impact of the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza's biodiversity and environment. According to the statement, the aggression has resulted in the near-total destruction of the region’s biodiversity, affecting approximately 150 to 200 bird species, around 20 mammal species, and 20 species of reptiles, many of which are rare and endangered.
The statement also highlighted the severe environmental damage caused by the conflict, including the emission of over two million tons of carbon dioxide and around 60 million metric tons of carbon equivalent due to the destruction of buildings and the use of weaponry.
The authority reported significant pollution along Gaza's coastlines, where solid household waste is accumulating on the beaches, and the sea is being polluted by tens of thousands of tons of untreated wastewater and weapon remnants. Groundwater pollution has exceeded 97%, with around 40 water wells completely destroyed and 5,000 linear meters of rainwater drainage channels and manholes damaged.
Environmental and Legal Perspectives
Duraid Mahasneh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the EDAMA Association for Energy, Water, and Environment, emphasized that all water sources in Gaza have been polluted due to the aggression, which will take years to remedy.
He noted that in just two months, carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to 250,000 tons were released, which is comparable to the emissions produced by a European country over two years.
Mai El-Sayegh, Director of Media and Communications at the Regional Office of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for the Middle East and North Africa, pointed out that the attack on Gaza’s natural resources violates international humanitarian law.
She stressed that certain rules must be upheld during wars to protect human dignity and the natural environment, as stipulated in the Additional Protocol to the 1949 Geneva Convention, which prohibits any form of environmental damage.
Dr. Ali Kotb, a climate professor at Zagazig University, described the war in Gaza as a massive environmental catastrophe. He highlighted the severe pollution caused by the conflict, including the release of gases like uranium, carbon, and hydrogen, as well as the radioactive effects of nuclear bombs resulting from the destruction of residential areas.
Dr. Kotb warned that the environmental pollution from this war could have long-lasting and devastating effects on the region, surpassing even those of the Hiroshima bomb in Japan. He noted that the war has led to the killing and destruction of a wide variety of wildlife, with the survivors likely to undergo biological changes due to the need to adapt to the new, war-torn environment.
In conclusion, the ongoing conflict in Gaza has not only led to a humanitarian crisis but also an environmental disaster of unprecedented scale. The long-term effects on biodiversity, marine life, and the overall ecosystem are expected to be severe and lasting, calling for immediate international intervention to prevent further degradation.
Biodiversity Under Siege
Dr. Abdel-Messih Sam'an, an environmental studies professor at Ain Shams University, highlighted the profound impact of war on biodiversity, which includes the diversity within species and the ecosystems in which they live. War causes extensive destruction through gases, dust, smoke, deforestation, and the destruction of infrastructure such as electricity and sewage systems. This destruction affects both plant and animal life severely.
Plants suffer particularly during conflicts, as the tools and weapons used lead to the burning and destruction of trees and various crops, thus obliterating plant diversity. Moreover, animals, birds, fish, and other living organisms are significantly affected by the emissions from weapons, destruction of infrastructure, and overall environmental degradation. Marine ecosystems, too, are heavily impacted by the chemicals released during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
These chemicals, when introduced into the sea, disrupt marine biodiversity, affecting fish and other aquatic life. The larger issue, however, is air pollution resulting from the war—dust, smoke, and gases that have dire consequences on human health and the broader environment, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
Dr. Sam'an warned that the continuation of the conflict could result in the extinction of certain species, especially in natural reserves that house rare organisms. The destruction of these reserves would lead to the loss of significant biodiversity, including plants and animals unique to Gaza, which could vanish if their habitats are destroyed.
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