Palestinian authorities have warned of an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe threatening the Gaza Strip due to the devastation caused by the Israeli offensive. They noted the accumulation of approximately 68 million tons of rubble and the destruction of agricultural land, water infrastructure, and sanitation systems.
This came in a statement issued by the Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority on Friday, marking the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, observed annually on November 6.
The Authority stated that between 61 and 68 million tons of rubble have accumulated in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli destruction, including approximately 4 million tons of hazardous waste and at least 50,000 tons of asbestos, a carcinogenic fibrous material used in construction and insulation.
It added that the Israeli offensive destroyed 82 percent of agricultural land, 97 percent of olive and fruit trees, and 84 percent of the water and sanitation infrastructure.
The Authority explained that the destruction of the infrastructure has resulted in the discharge of approximately 120,000 cubic meters of untreated sewage daily into the streets and water basins of the Gaza Strip. Since October 2023, Israel has been committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, leaving more than 74,000 martyrs and more than 175,000 wounded Palestinians, in addition to massive destruction of civilian infrastructure.
