The Palestinian Center for Policy Studies revealed on Sunday that more than 86% of agricultural land in the Gaza Strip suffered varying degrees of damage during the Israeli offensive, calling for a shift from emergency response to the adoption of a sustainable development vision.
This came in a new economic policy paper titled “Rehabilitating Agricultural Lands in Gaza After the 2023-2025 War: Between Risk Removal, Recovery Challenges, and the Prospect for Rebuilding the Agricultural System,” prepared by researcher Khaled Abu Amer, highlighting the extent of the destruction inflicted on the agricultural sector.
The paper explained that the damage is not limited to crops and infrastructure, but extends to soil, water, and the ecosystem, further complicating the recovery process and making it more difficult compared to previous phases.
The researcher indicated that estimates suggest more than 86% of agricultural land was damaged, in addition to a near-total collapse of water and livestock systems.
The study reviewed the agricultural land rehabilitation project currently being implemented by local and international organizations, noting that it remains limited to the land preparation phase without completing the production cycle, due to shortages of agricultural inputs, energy, and funding. The paper also analyzed past reconstruction experiences in Gaza, revealing a recurring pattern of “partial recovery” that reproduces fragility due to blockade constraints, insufficient funding, and the absence of comprehensive environmental measures.
The center emphasized the need to adopt a comprehensive development approach to rebuild the agricultural system and address political and environmental challenges, thereby strengthening the resilience of Palestinian society.
