Israel has carried out a sweeping campaign of agricultural destruction in Gaza since October 7, 2023, systematically targeting farmlands, food infrastructure, and environmental resources in what observers describe as a deliberate attempt to induce famine in the besieged enclave.

According to an Al Jazeera investigation backed by field evidence, UN data, and satellite imagery, the Israeli military has bulldozed vast swaths of farmland, turning fertile fields into barren wastelands. Farmers such as Mohammed Madhi, Abdullah al-Attar, and Mohammed Zayed lost entire harvests worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. These losses go beyond personal tragedy—they have deprived thousands of Palestinians of critical food supplies during an already dire humanitarian crisis.

The Israeli military has annexed 36% of Gaza’s land into an expanded buffer zone, effectively erasing key food-producing areas, particularly in Beit Lahia, Rafah, and Khan Younis. UN assessments show 75% of agricultural fields and olive orchards have been damaged or destroyed, along with 1,531 irrigation wells.

Analysis by agencies like Planet Labs and UNOSAT shows a 92% drop in vegetation health across eastern Gaza. NDVI imaging reveals complete loss of plant life, while drone and satellite visuals trace military vehicle tracks and deep craters through former green zones. Entire greenhouse complexes have been razed, especially in Deir al-Balah and northern Gaza.

Environmental experts also report extensive phosphorus contamination, rendering soil unusable. In some areas, white phosphorus residue reached 1,800 mg/kg—467 times the EPA's acceptable limit. Pollination networks and bird species vital to local ecosystems have collapsed, with bee populations plummeting by 92%.

From Siege to Starvation

Before the war, 41% of Gaza’s land supported agriculture, sustaining over 560,000 people. Today, most of this has been rendered unusable. UN agencies and Palestinian human rights experts argue that the pattern of destruction suggests intentional starvation as a weapon of war.

Yasser Abdel Ghaffour of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights stated, “This is not collateral damage—it’s a systematic policy. It constitutes genocide and a crime against humanity under international law.”

With over 2.3 million Palestinians now crammed into just 35% of Gaza’s land, the destruction of food sources has pushed communities to the brink. Farms, bakeries, food warehouses, and central markets have all been targeted, leaving the population reliant on intermittent aid—much of which is blocked at border crossings.

Israeli NGO Breaking the Silence, which collects testimonies from former soldiers, confirmed that buffer zone expansion and farmland demolition are standard operational directives.