Displaced Gaza farmers turn to dirt near tents to grow crops | Israel-Palestine conflict News
Gaza City, Gaza — As he browses through old photographs on his mobile phone, farmer Abu Fares reflects on the Sheikh Ijlin neighborhood of Gaza City, which was once celebrated for its abundant grapevines, fig trees, and diverse seasonal crops.
Today, however, the landscape has drastically changed. Widespread bulldozing by Israeli forces since October 2023 has transformed this once fertile area into a barren wasteland, undermining the agricultural foundations that supported thousands of families. The devastation represents a significant humanitarian crisis for Gaza’s displaced farmers, who have not only lost their homes but also their primary source of income. Systematic destruction of farmland, coupled with an ongoing Israeli blockade that restricts access to essential farming supplies, is exacerbating food insecurity for over two million Palestinians.
In response to rising food prices and extreme desperation, many displaced individuals are attempting to cultivate small gardens near their temporary shelters. One displaced farmer shared her efforts to grow tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and molokhia greens to feed her family, which includes several orphaned children.
Despite the severe shortages of water, seeds, and fertilizers, some farmers, like Abu Mohammed, are continuing to work the land. They see agriculture not merely as a source of income but as a form of resistance and a means of maintaining a connection to their heritage.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Agriculture, cultivated land has declined to less than 15 percent of its usual productive capacity due to the destruction of irrigation systems, a lack of agricultural inputs, and ongoing violence against farmers in the fields.
Access to traditional farmlands has become perilous, with Israeli forces designating many areas as part of their operational territory, making them targets for artillery fire. As a result, small patches of land near tents are often the only viable option for cultivation.
Experts suggest that this agricultural devastation is a calculated strategy rather than an incidental consequence of war. Fadel El-Zubi, a food security expert with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), asserts that the destruction represents a direct assault on Gaza’s food system. He notes that the systematic targeting of irrigation infrastructure, crop storage facilities, and adult trees is designed to incapacitate local food production, fostering a dependency on international aid.
Before the latest conflict, agriculture constituted about 10 percent of Gaza’s economy and employed over 560,000 individuals. Today, that system has been largely dismantled. Beth Bechdol, the FAO’s deputy director general, has highlighted that the destruction of greenhouses and irrigation wells has halted local food production, intensifying the threat of famine across the region.
The extent of agricultural destruction is unprecedented. Assessments conducted in May 2025 by the FAO and the UN Satellite Centre indicated that less than 5 percent of Gaza’s cropland remained suitable for cultivation. By October, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported that much of the farmland was either destroyed or inaccessible.
Recent data from the Government Media Office in Gaza illustrates that Israel has obliterated over 94 percent of the enclave’s 178,000 dunams (approximately 178 square kilometers) of agricultural land. This has resulted in a dramatic decline in annual agricultural production, plummeting from 405,000 tonnes to just 28,000 tonnes.
Up to four million fruit trees have been uprooted, including 1.6 million olive trees, which will take decades to replenish. Additionally, approximately 87 percent of agricultural wells and 85 percent of greenhouses have been severely damaged or destroyed. The current estimated losses in the agricultural and livestock sectors reach $2.8 billion.
Rebuilding this crucial sector will require substantial investment. Last year, the FAO appealed for $75 million to assist farmers with seeds, animal feeds, irrigation tools, and other essential materials. However, El-Zubi noted that less than 10 percent of this amount has been funded due to shifting international donor priorities.
Despite the financial challenges and significant security risks, Gaza’s farmers persist in their attempts to salvage and restore their land, driven by hope for the revitalization of a sector that has long been critical to their survival.