Abu Suffiyeh, a farmer, East Jabliye βππ π΅π³π’π€π¦ π°π§ ππ’π―π₯ πΈπ¦ π¬π―π°πΈ, ππ©π¦πΊ π΅π°π΅π’πππΊ π¦π³π’π΄π¦π₯ πͺπ΅. ππ΅ πΆπ΄π¦π₯ π΅π° π£π¦ π’ ππͺπ·π¦ππΊ π’π³π¦π’, π£πΆπ΅ π―π°πΈ π΅π©π¦π³π¦ πͺπ΄ π―π° ππͺπ§π¦ π’π΅ π’ππ π΅π©π¦π³π¦.β These words depict the ongoing ecocide in the Gaza strip due to the large-scale and long-term significant damage to the ecology and environment of the area.
The term βEcocideβ means the long -term destruction of the environment and nature through unlawful human acts which can jeopardize peopleβs tradition, history, culture, and practices. Initially it was popularized during the Vietnam war when the US used βAgent Orangeβ that imposed a long term adverse impact on the environment and human health. It was coined by Arthur Galstone in 1970, at the Conference on War and National Responsibility. One can understand the consequences of the massive ecocidal effect on the world watching movies that portray the post ecocidal work.
Famous movies like Interstellar, Blade Runner, Mad Max, WALL-E, Elysium, Children of Men, Passengers, The Avatar Movies, and The Matrix were based on the post ecocide world. These movies show how peopleβs carelessness of mother earth and nature eventually leads to an apocalyptic reality. For example, Wall-E, the Oscar winning movie depicts the post- apocalyptic world where human civilization was forced to leave the earth due to extreme pollution caused by fossil fuel consumption.
Avatar, Elysium, and Interstellar present compelling visions of humanity’s struggle in the aftermath of environmental collapse, where survival hinges on escaping the consequences of ecological destruction. In Avatar, the exploitation of Pandora mirrors humanity’s relentless pursuit of resources at the cost of natural harmony, while Elysium showcases a prominent divide between those who can escape Earth’s ruin and those left behind to endure its decay. Interstellar shifts focus to the desperate search for a new home among the stars as Earth’s resources depletes. Together, these films provide a powerful depiction of the critical importance of protecting our environment before it is too late.
The Ecocide in Gaza:
The ongoing war is likely to have damaged around 50% of Gaza’s tree crops, which are the land’s primary vegetation cover. According to a Queen Mary University, London study, the first 120 days of the conflict after October 7, 2023 resulted in CO2 emissions ranging from 420,265 to 652,552 tons. Also, this war generated around 39 million tons of debris, which is around 170 kg of debris per square meter of land in the Gaza Strip. Approximately 1200 tons of solid waste were produced daily until November 2023, posing a major health risk in the area.
According to the report of Forensic Architecture Organization, before 2023, Gaza had 170 square kilometers of agricultural land, covering 47% of its area and serving as a vital source of food security. Since October 2023, Israelβs ground invasion has destroyed over 2,000 agricultural sites, including farms and greenhouses, with nearly 40% of Gazaβs farmland rendered unusable. Remote sensing reveals a stark decline in the regionβs vegetation index, highlighting extensive agricultural damage. The destruction is concentrated in northern Gaza, where 90% of greenhouses were eliminated early in the invasion. As the military advances southward, agricultural losses continue, with 40% of greenhouses near Khan Younis destroyed by early 2024. This devastation, coupled with the expansion of Israelβs buffer zone, further restricts Palestiniansβ already limited living space.
Moreover, according to βHuman Rights Watchβ and βAmnesty Internationalβ the IDF has used white phosphorus which contradicts the International Law of Human rights and is considered a war crime. The use of white phosphorus will have a detrimental and long term environmental and human health impact. This compound can remain hidden in the soil, water, sediment, sand, and debris, posing significant environmental risks in Gaza.
The Ecocide and Genocide:
The connection between genocide and ecocide becomes more evident when considering the distinct legal frameworks proposed for these crimes. Genocide requires specific intent to destroy a group, whereas ecocide, as proposed by the Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide, is a strict liability offence without intent. This distinction stems from the nature of environmental damage, which is frequently the unintended consequence of activities motivated by economic or industrial productivity. It is difficult to prove intent in cases of ecological destruction, so strict liability is critical for effectively addressing large-scale environmental harm.
Both genocide and ecocide focus on widespread destruction. According to Lauren J. Eichler, Ecocide leads to Genocide. In many cases, such as in Indigenous communities, ecocide can lead to genocide as environmental destruction threatens cultural and physical survival. A real scenario can be the Colombian Ecocide. A study titled “Genocide and Ecocide in Four Colombian Indigenous Communities: The Erosion of a Way of Life and Memory” examines how activities such as deforestation, mining, and oil extraction have devastated the lands of Indigenous people, leading to cultural disintegration and population decline. The research highlights that the destruction of the environment directly threatens the survival of these communities, as their cultural practices and livelihoods are deeply connected to their ancestral territories.
The situation in Gaza stands as a tragic reminder of the consequences of war in human life and the environment. The loss of fertile land, the destruction of vegetation, and the extent of debris and emissions underscore the scale of ecological devastation. This is not merely an environmental crisis but an ecocide, an irreversible assault on nature that jeopardizes livelihoods, traditions, and the very fabric of a regionβs identity. The use of white phosphorus and the long-term contamination it causes exacerbates the crisis, leaving a toxic legacy for future generations to deal with. The ongoing war crimes, the ecocide, and possible genocide is happening in the Gaza strip. This conflict not only causes losses of human life, but it also has far-reaching environmental consequences that will never be easily recovered.
Abu Suffiyeh’s words, mourning his eviction from his land, reflect the collective grief of a people who have seen their home reduced to rubble and ash. It’s a call to global accountability and action. Without combined efforts to address these ecological destruction, conflicts like this will continue to push humanity closer to the dystopian realities depicted in movies, where environmental collapse renders the Earth uninhabitable. Gaza’s tragedy must awaken the world to the urgent need for peace, justice, and environmental stewardship to prevent such catastrophic losses from becoming the norm.
