Mon May 26 14:12:10 UTC 2025: ## Gaza’s Agriculture Decimated, Famine Risk Soars Amid Israeli Attacks: FAO
**Gaza City** – A new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) paints a grim picture of Gaza’s agricultural sector, decimated by Israeli attacks and raising the specter of widespread famine. The assessment, conducted jointly with the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), reveals that less than 5% of the Gaza Strip’s cropland is currently cultivable, crippling the region’s ability to feed its own population.
The FAO described the situation as “alarming,” highlighting the destruction of agricultural infrastructure as a major factor in “further deteriorating food production capacity and exacerbating the risk of famine.” The report indicates that over 80% of Gaza’s total cropland has been damaged, with a staggering 77.8% now inaccessible to farmers. Only 688 hectares (1,700 acres), a meager 4.6% of the total, remain available for cultivation.
“This level of destruction is not just a loss of infrastructure – it is a collapse of Gaza’s agrifood system and of lifelines,” stated Beth Bechdol, FAO’s deputy director-general. “What once provided food, income, and stability for hundreds of thousands is now in ruins.”
The devastation extends beyond cropland, with over 70% of greenhouses and nearly 83% of agricultural wells damaged. The destruction of these vital resources has brought local food production to a virtual standstill.
The FAO’s findings amplify previous warnings, including the recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, which declared Gaza’s entire population is at critical risk of famine. This crisis comes after months of conflict, mass displacement, and severe restrictions on humanitarian aid.
While Israel announced a “minimal” increase in aid deliveries last week, humanitarian organizations argue that it is insufficient to meet the overwhelming needs of the starving population.
Meanwhile, Israeli military actions continue within the Gaza Strip. On Monday, an Israeli airstrike hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City, resulting in a devastating fire and the deaths of at least 36 Palestinians, including children. Health officials reported over 50 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks across the enclave since dawn.
The FAO emphasized that rebuilding Gaza’s agricultural sector will require significant investment and a sustained commitment to restoring both livelihoods and hope for the war-torn region. The international community is facing increasing pressure to address the escalating humanitarian crisis and prevent a widespread famine in Gaza.
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