Before the outbreak of the conflict on October 7, Mohamed El-Yaty, a 39-year-old farmer from Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, maintained a rigorous farming schedule, working from 6 a.m. to after 7 p.m. daily. However, since the hostilities began, he has been able to farm only about half of his 13 dunams (approximately 13,000 square meters) of land, which has drastically cut his yields of vegetables such as eggplants, cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes. El-Yaty has lost 22 family members in the conflict, which has claimed at least 40,000 lives according to local health sources. The destruction has severely impacted Gaza's once self-sufficient agrifood system, which provided much of the enclave's vegetables, dairy, poultry, fish, and other food products. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has reported extensive damage due to the conflict: approximately 57% of Gaza’s cropland is destroyed, 33% of greenhouses are damaged, and significant harm has occurred to wells and solar panels. Additionally, shortages of water and fodder have led to the death of around 70% of Gaza’s livestock since October, and about 70% of fishing vessels have been destroyed. Electricity shortages have compounded these issues, disrupting refrigeration, irrigation, and incubation systems, which are critical for agriculture. As a result, only small-scale farming, fishing, and animal husbandry continue, and only when security conditions allow.
Prior to the current crisis, Gaza was already struggling with food insecurity, with up to 1.8 million people—one-third of the Palestinian population—considered food insecure. The conflict has worsened this situation, leading to extreme hunger for many, with around 96% of Gaza’s population expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity by September. The FAO has reported that approximately 20% of Gazans are experiencing extreme hunger, with significant numbers going entire days without eating.
Due to Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid, which predominantly consists of non-perishable canned goods, Gazans are not receiving the fresh, nutritious food they need. The FAO, supported by Belgium, Italy, and Norway, is working to address this by delivering barley fodder to sustain the surviving livestock and support milk production, crucial for children’s nutrition. They are also focused on helping Gazan farmers resume production of vegetables, meat, and fish to improve food security and nutrition.
In the West Bank, ongoing violence, property destruction, and land confiscation by Israeli settlers have further undermined agricultural activities. The conflict has increased dependency on food imports and disrupted agricultural work. With Israeli permits suspended since October 7, many Palestinians who previously worked on Israeli farms are now working the land in the West Bank, which is seen as both a livelihood and a way to protect local land from settlement encroachment. The FAO's priority remains to import and distribute essential fodder to support the remaining livestock in Gaza and to help restore agricultural production to ensure food security for the region’s population.
Please find original version of article below:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2568195/middle-east
Photo credit: The conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas has all but destroyed Gaza’s agrifood system. (FAO)
The information shared by the Islamic Organization for Food Security (“IOFS”) on iofs.org.kz (the “Site”) serves solely for general informational purposes. As a non-profit international organization, IOFS provides this information in good faith, with no intention to commercialize, profit, or exploit any content. Commercial use, including reselling, charging for access, redistribution, or creating derivative works, such as unofficial translations based on these documents, is strictly prohibited. All posts, publications, texts, and any other information on the Site, owned by authors and references, are appropriately linked.
IOFS disclaims any liability for loss or damage of any kind resulting from the use of the Site. Your understanding and compliance with these terms contribute to maintaining the informative and non-commercial nature of our platform.
