🎙️ Agriculture in Gaza Under Siege: The “Food Basket” Amid Destruction and Starvation
📻 Radio Al Rabaa – Special Report
🎙️ Agriculture in Gaza Under Siege: The “Food Basket” Amid Destruction and Starvation
Amid a brutal war, the land in the Gaza Strip seems unable to breathe. Agriculture, long considered the backbone of Palestinian food security, is facing systematic destruction that has turned a loaf of bread into a dream and seeds into a distant wish.
Mahmoud Fouad Musabah, Chairman of the Developmental Agricultural Association and Head of the Farmers’ Union in the Middle Governorate, said:
“We are ready to cooperate with any local or international entity willing to support the agricultural sector, which is Palestine’s food basket and a cornerstone of Palestinian resilience in the face of starvation and blockade policies.”
Despite the Association’s ongoing efforts to assess farmers’ needs and devise recovery plans, catastrophic challenges continue to erode every remaining hope. The closure of crossings, the ban on the entry of essential resources, and Israeli control over vast areas of land have all deepened the crisis.
A “Nakba” for Agriculture
Engineer Yasser Al-Aweidat, Head of the Emergency Committee for the Southern Governorates at the Ministry of Agriculture, described the current situation as an “agricultural Nakba.”
He noted that prior to the war, 70–80% of Gaza’s territory was agricultural land. Today, only 6% remains cultivable, according to international organizations.
Al-Aweidat added that the occupation destroyed greenhouses and border farms, stripping the sector of self-sufficiency and forcing it to import vegetables—leading to unprecedented price hikes.
“The destruction wasn’t enough—they’re also besieging us by preventing the entry of seeds, fertilizers, and greenhouse covers, putting the next agricultural season at risk,” he said.
Collapse of the Livestock Sector
In a related development, Engineer Adel Abdel Hamid Al-Belbisi from the Livestock Production Department confirmed a total collapse in the poultry sector. White meat and eggs have vanished from markets after hatcheries and farms were bombed.
“We used to produce enough for local consumption. Now, everything is destroyed—even projects that hadn’t yet started were completely wiped out,” Al-Belbisi stated.
Rising from the Rubble
Despite the devastation, the Agricultural Association continues its efforts to revive the sector.
Dr. Nahed Hammad, Director of Project Programs at the Association, said several partnership agreements have been signed with international organizations to provide direct support to farmers, especially smallholders.
Among these initiatives: establishing a plant nursery and launching home gardening projects to help affected families achieve self-sufficiency.
A Voice from the Field
Farmer Saeed Salim Abu Salim from Deir al-Balah lost his 40-dunum farm twice—the latest during the recent assault. What once were productive greenhouses are now rubble, erasing his only source of income.
“I’ve suffered losses exceeding 20,000 dinars, and I’ve received no support—neither from official bodies nor from international organizations. I waited 20 years after the 2000 destruction, and I’m still waiting,” he said bitterly.
He added that he had to sell part of his land to rehabilitate what was bulldozed, dig a new well, and rebuild the greenhouses. But now, due to skyrocketing costs and the absence of aid, he is unable to rebuild.
“Revive the farmer—don’t let him die. Without your support, I cannot rise again,” he concluded.
Agriculture Suffocating… Food Security at Risk
What is happening in Gaza is not just the destruction of farms or agricultural land—it is a systematic assault on Palestinian food security.
Today’s targeting of agriculture is an attempt to dry up sources of survival and dismantle Palestinians’ ability to persevere.
Engineer Mahmoud Musabah concluded:
“What’s happening now is a death certificate for the agricultural sector, and the Israeli war machine bears full responsibility. We are in urgent need of immediate intervention to bring this sector back to life before it’s too late. All efforts must unite to restore the heartbeat of agriculture.”
