Gaza Herald- The Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority warned that the destruction of buildings and infrastructure in Gaza has caused a large accumulation of hazardous waste, including more than 60 million tons of rubble, 4 million tons of hazardous materials, over 50,000 tons of asbestos, and around 100,000 tons of explosive and unexploded ordnance.
In a statement, the authority reported that the assault destroyed 80% of Gaza’s water and sewage infrastructure, heavily contaminated the coastal aquifer, and damaged more than 2,000 industrial facilities across the Strip.
The war created makeshift garbage dumps and left over 700,000 tons of solid waste, while the destruction of health landfills and medical waste facilities further contaminated new areas, particularly as civilians were displaced from northern to central and southern Gaza.
The Environmental Authority warned of large-scale leaks of chemicals, oils, solar panels, batteries, and asbestos into the soil and surface water, dangerously accelerating the region’s environmental collapse.
Widespread pollution from sewage, explosives, and toxic waste has contaminated 700–1,000 meters of the coastal zone, severely limiting fishing areas.
About 3,700 dunums of coastal and beach habitats were destroyed, along with half of Wadi Gaza Nature Reserve, the territory’s only natural reserve.
The war devastated large agricultural areas, contaminating them with sewage, solid waste, and explosives, while military vehicles compacted the soil and destroyed its fertility.
Israel’s assault destroyed nearly all of Gaza’s agriculture, wiping out 95% of crops, 98% of fruit trees, and 89% of seasonal harvests across the Strip.
