Systematic Environmental Destruction in Occupied Palestine

The Environment Quality Authority documented 760 environmental aggressions in the West Bank between January and late September, including the leveling of agricultural land, uprooting of thousands of trees, and dumping of hazardous waste. Simultaneously, the Gaza Strip is facing an unprecedented ecological catastrophe: tens of millions of tons of rubble, contaminated with asbestos and explosive residues, have accumulated. Furthermore, 82% of agricultural land and 97% of fruit trees have been destroyed. The collapse of 84% of water and sanitation infrastructure has led to a surge in diseases and the contamination of groundwater. The Authority states that these systematic violations constitute environmental war crimes under international law and the Rome Statute, as they deliberately target the Palestinian natural heritage and essential life-sustaining resources.