Even though for the past couple of weeks most of my waking moments were focused on the current Israel - Gaza war, like many of us are, it did not escape my notice that COP ‘28 began last Thursday. It is quite natural to focus on human lives, politics and the economy in the midst of war. Countless lives lost in Israel and Palestine, both facing shaky political leaders. Following governmental decisions, I was appalled when I realised certain budgetary proposals were approved during this time–hidden from public scrutiny. 15 Million Shekels were invested in the prevention of assimilation; decisions like that are made in the midst of this war, when our political system is at its weakest. All of that to say, is that I understand the fixation on social and political issues during these times, they are the most imminent and most infuriating. They pull people in, me included.
While it's natural to focus on human lives, politics, and the economy during a conflict, I recently found myself increasingly concerned about the environmental crisis that will inevitably follow this war. When contemplating the aftermath of wars, we often overlook the toxins seeping into the ground, the aquifers being poisoned, and the regulations overturned to address environmental catastrophes.
Reports over the past few weeks have highlighted the toxins emitted into our air, land, and water with each missile, rendering vast stretches of land in Gaza and Israel unusable due to health risks. These lands cannot be developed, used for agriculture, or support animals and emit poisonous gases. Heavy metals are absorbed into the ground, known to cause cancer and other deadly diseases. Additionally, the widespread fires ignited by Hamas and other areas in Israel have burned massive amounts of toxic fuels, subjecting Gaza and Israel to a worsening of the quality of air. Additionally, the same can be said about Gaza, who will have to deal with the same environmental effects caused by Israeli missiles. To emphasise this point, 25,000 tonnes of munitions were dropped on Gaza in the first few weeks of the war. The carbon emissions from this would equate with the annual energy use of approximately 2,300 homes, or the annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from approximately 4,600 passenger vehicles. In the “Middle East Institute” it was reported that “None of Gaza’s six wastewater treatment plants are operating for the same reason [lack of fuel and electricity], causing 130,000 cubic metres of untreated sewage to flow to the sea daily. An environment degraded by war cannot withstand climate stresses.”
The consequences of such actions affect lands and water resources for decades, sometimes irreversibly. Many Arab villages around Israel resort to burning waste as waste evacuation services refuse to operate amid the Israel-Gaza war. Furthermore, restrictions on oil, natural gas, and other polluting factories have been lifted, justified by the need for more energy during the war. However, there is a concerning lack of discussion about reinstating these restrictions. I fear that companies will exploit this newfound liberty, further damaging a region already grappling with the climate crisis. For example, the oil transportation company Kazza, increased the amount of oil in exports through Eilat bay claiming that it is necessary to do so at times of war. In Ashkelon, a new luxury residential community has been approved to be built upon open spaces in the city. These are few examples from many, all have been voted on or decided upon during the war, lacking regulation and public knowledge.
Israel and Palestine will have to face the environmental repercussions of this war for decades to come. Although it may not seem like a pressing issue deserving immediate attention, it is one that cannot and should not be ignored by anyone considering themselves an Israeli or Palestinian citizen.
