Context

• They devastate ecosystems, deplete natural resources, contaminate water bodies and destroy agricultural land, creating consequences that may persist for generations.
• Recognising this concern, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) designated November 6 as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict in 2001.
• The environmental crisis in Gaza raises serious questions about international humanitarian law, environmental justice, state responsibility and the rights of occupied populations.

The Devastation in Gaza

• Destruction of Agricultural Resources
  • The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in its September 23, 2025 report, Environmental Impact of the Conflict in the Gaza Strip, documented unprecedented ecological destruction resulting from prolonged hostilities.
  • The findings reveal that Gaza has lost 97% of its tree crops, 95% of its shrub land and 82% of its annual crops since 2023.
  • This destruction has severely undermined agricultural production, threatened livelihoods and intensified food insecurity.
• Contamination of Water and Marine Ecosystems
  • Freshwater resources have become critically scarce, with much of the remaining supply contaminated.
  • The destruction of sewage treatment facilities and piped water systems has aggravated pollution of underground aquifers.
  • Marine and coastal ecosystems are also likely to have suffered contamination.
  • These developments threaten public health and weaken the ecological foundations necessary for sustainable recovery.
• Destruction of Infrastructure and Soil Degradation
  • Approximately 78% of Gaza's buildings have been damaged or destroyed, generating nearly 61 million tonnes of debris.
  • The destruction of vegetation and soil compaction caused by military activities reduce water absorption, increase flood risks and restrict groundwater recharge.
  • These environmental consequences will complicate reconstruction and affect future generations.

Violations of Environmental Obligations

• International Legal Framework under PERAC
  • The ILC adopted 27 draft principles in 2022 under its report, Protection of the Environment in Relation to Armed Conflicts.
  • The UNGA formally took note of these principles on December 7, 2022.
  • The first principle establishes that environmental protection obligations apply before, during and after armed conflicts, including situations of occupation.
  • Environmental protection is therefore a continuing responsibility rather than merely a wartime obligation.
• Responsibilities of an Occupying Power
  • Under international law, an occupying power must administer and utilise natural resources for the benefit of the occupied population while ensuring environmental protection.
  • It must also integrate environmental considerations into the administration of occupied territory.
  • The ICJ's July 19, 2024 advisory opinion concerning Israel's policies and practices in the Palestinian Territory addressed the legal consequences of prolonged occupation, including resource-related practices.

International Responsibility and Reparation

• Principle 9 of PERAC establishes that a state committing an internationally wrongful act connected with armed conflict, resulting in environmental damage, bears international responsibility and must provide full reparation.
• Reparation must include damage to the environment itself.
• In Gaza, restoration would require rehabilitating agricultural land, rebuilding water and sanitation infrastructure, removing hazardous debris, addressing soil contamination and reviving damaged ecosystems.
• The ICJ's 2024 advisory opinion provides an important legal foundation for assessing the consequences of Israel's policies in the occupied territory.
• Accountability and environmental restoration are essential to preventing ecological destruction from becoming permanent.

Conclusion

• The environmental devastation in Gaza demonstrates that armed conflicts have consequences extending far beyond immediate military operations.
• The destruction of agricultural land, freshwater resources, sanitation systems and ecosystems threatens public health, human survival and sustainable development.
• The PERAC principles, international humanitarian law and ICJ jurisprudence provide important foundations for establishing state responsibility and securing reparation.
• However, effective implementation, independent environmental assessments and accountability remain essential.