Dr Naomi Rintoul-Hynes, Senior Lecturer in Soil Science and Environmental Management, is calling for a new approach to protect ecologically important sites post-war.

In a recent article published in the respected journal Ambio, Dr Rintoul-Hynes outlines a series of urgent recommendations that should be part of any peace negotiations following the Isreal-Hamas conflict. Her proposals are aimed at ensuring a sustainable, long-term recovery for Gaza that supports the environment and communities, not just the physical reconstruction.

The recommendations are grounded in her research into the environmental impact of armed conflict, and the subsequent risks to local ecology and human health. In particular, her role as Principal Investigator on the Global Food and Water Security project, based at Princeton University.

This global project examines the environmental consequences of conflict in Palestine, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Kenya, amongst others. It is also one of the most comprehensive studies ever conducted during an active conflict, where hundreds of samples have been collected from the front line of the war in Ukraine to quantify the level of environmental pollutants present.

Dr Rintoul-Hynes explains: “The term environcide was coined to describe the process of damaging or destroying the environment through violence. During conflict, the most pressing horrors of war, injury, death, forced migration, unsanitary living conditions and malnutrition, understandably take precedent over environmental damage. However, war also causes long-term damage and destruction of ecologically important habitats. It endangers species, affecting their survival, and damages essential infrastructure to water supplies causing persistent water contamination, posing serious environmental risks.

“Environmental recovery isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Toxic remnants of war don’t just kill ecosystems; they endanger the long-term health and stability of communities trying to rebuild.”

“The Israel-Hamas conflict is no exception. It has had a catastrophic impact, causing long-term pollution of soil, air and water. That’s why any peace negotiations must include a clear commitment to a long-term, sustainable environmental reconstruction to repair the environmental damage within the region, and the very systems that sustain life.”

Key environmental considerations associated with the Israel-Hamas conflict include:

Damage to essential infrastructure

The destruction of vital infrastructure, including desalination plants, pumping stations, and pipelines, has exacerbated Gaza's already limited water supply. In addition, damage to sewage systems has led to untreated wastewater spilling into rivers and coastal waters. The widespread destruction of the water infrastructure has not only increased water scarcity, but also leads to persistent water contamination, posing serious environmental risks and obstructing efforts to achieve sustainable water management post-war.

Environmental pollution

Military activities such as artillery fire, explosives and landmines are associated with the release of contaminants into the environment that may have severe impacts on the local ecology and human health. This long-term environmental pollution will last decades or even centuries if left untreated in agricultural land. So far, the conflict has resulted in 37 million tons of debris – over 14 times that produced in all global conflicts in the last 16 years.

Habitat damage/loss

The destruction of habitats includes ecologically important sites such as Wadi Gaza Nature Reserve in Gaza – crucial for migratory birds – and Wadi Al-Quff Protected Area in West Bank – a site with particularly high species diversity. Similarly, much of Gaza’s agricultural lands have been destroyed and Gaza’s livestock has been decimated. This exacerbates food security and food safety issues that were already of concern in the region.

Ecological barriers

Barriers such as the Iron Wall (along the entire 40km length of the Gaza-Israel border) will impact seasonal migrations and dispersal of animals in search of territories or mates, affecting their survival. In Gaza, these barriers also cause overgrazing pressures: as pastureland decreases, livestock are found in such dense numbers on small parcels of land that they are causing desertification in some areas.

Based on known environmental issues in Gaza, Dr Rintoul-Hynes suggests:

Research to be conducted on short, medium and long-term environmental impacts of warfare, including the different stages - preparation for war, armed conflict and postwar activities. It should also consider local and regional habitats, environmental conditions and vulnerabilities to ensure decisions are specific to the local environment.
A clear and science-based decision-making process that must involve the local community to ensure environmental restoration programmes to be successful.
A programme to increase awareness of the value of war-affected habitats should be established, and wildlife and biodiversity conservation should be considered during redevelopment, particularly of infrastructure.
Remnants of war must be cleared to ensure safe and clean habitats. Not only unexploded ordinance, but also other leftover material such as vehicles, weapons, and ammunition. Hotspots of high contamination are a risk to ecosystems and/or human health should be identified to target sustainable and cost-effective remediation of these areas.

You can read the full article, Environmental Considerations for Post-War Reconstruction of Gaza, in Ambio.

War’s toxic legacy: why the environment must be part of peace talks