[Depiction of the impacts of war on the surrounding environment. Photo credit: Pixaby]

The conflict between Israel and Palstine is extensive and politically complicated, resulting in numerous short-term and long-term burdens.

For example, financial burdens are significant.

According to a report published by Reuters in December 2023, “Israel's war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip will cost as much as $51 billion.”

However, a more transparent consequence, not as politically angled, is the environmental impact of the war.

The main environmental issues stem from the use of explosives and potentially induced strategies to manipulate the direction of the war.

According to a recent assessment from the Director of National Intelligence from the US, as reported by the Washington Post, Israel’s air support alone has utilized more than 29,000 air-to-ground explosives in only around two months.

Apart from catastrophic damage to buildings and infrastructure, conflict pollution, defined by James Madison University as “the contamination caused by the direct damage to infrastructure, by the use of particular weapons,” arises.

Due to the urban nature of the Gaza strip, where gas stations, fuel storages, and residential buildings are located, the impact of explosives may release dust particles.

These particles can easily enter the lungs and bloodstream, potentially causing fatal diseases such as heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and others, according to the NASA Earth Observatory.

Furthermore, the explosives may cause contamination of toxic chemicals, such as HMX, RDX, and TNT, which may act as human carcinogens.

Not only could these chemicals be carcinogenic, but airborne contaminants may also pollute water sources, irrigation systems, soil, and more.

The toxic chemicals may find their way into water sources, which may lead to chronic illnesses for humans, and impact nearby fish, wildlife, and coastlines.

If such pollutants contaminate drinking water reserves, citizens will be left without safe drinking water, a necessity for all.

Furthermore, all types of contamination may prevent ecological flourishing for years to come, undoubtedly hindering the well-being of the next generations to occupy the land where such disasters are occurring.

The pollutants of toxic chemicals within the soil may be taken up by plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Once contaminated, these plots of land could drastically reduce the soil’s fertility, which, in turn, would jeopardize the security of food.

As casualties upon soldiers, citizens, infrastructure, and the immediate surroundings of the conflict zones are inevitable, this is also translated especially sharply to the environment.

It is anticipated that during times of conflict, opposing states or countries would use all means necessary to be declared victor, following the laws of war.

However, in some instances, some opposers may cross into a gray boundary of questioning the legality of specific war strategies and use of weapons.

In these cases, the damage to the environment may be amplified due to the inherently ambiguous nature of certain munitions, both legally and ethically.

In December 2023, the WashingtonPost reported possible human rights violation from Israel’s use of US-supplied munitions containing white phosphorus.

White phosphorus is a chemical compound that, when in contact with humans, can cause severe burns and, once released into the environment, may stick to soil particles deep underground, contaminating it.

As stated by Humans Rights Watch, “White phosphorus is not considered a chemical weapon and is not banned per se.”

However, its destructive and consequential properties may inflict greater damage on the environment in the long term than regular munitions, potentially leading to more dire soil fertility.

As the agricultural sector of Israel accounts for 19.1% of all manufacturing revenue, according to the International Trade Administration, the decrease in soil fertility may cause Israel's economy to suffer.

Although the area where the soils are currently being impacted is relatively small, due to rising tensions between the two parties, the war may cause the expansion of contaminated soil.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine is leaving a new layer of toxic and even radioactive contaminants on soil in Gaza, on top of the already chemically infused soil from previous conflicts.

The already existing impacts on the environment should serve as a call to action for those involved in the conflict to place more emphasis on establishing the well-being of not only its citizens,but also the environment.