Key Takeaways:
Over 89% of Gaza’s cropland is damaged, with less than 5% available for cultivation.
Food production has nearly halted, threatening over 560,000 livelihoods.
Damage to agriculture exceeds $2 billion, with recovery projected at $4.2 billion.
UN warns of catastrophic food insecurity affecting nearly half a million people.
Buffer zones and war have shrunk cultivable land by 35% or more.
Gaza’s Agricultural Sector Nears Total Collapse Amid Escalating Famine Threat
Gaza’s once-vibrant farmland, a critical lifeline for hundreds of thousands, has been decimated by ongoing conflict, according to a joint report from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre. Satellite imagery reveals that less than 5% of Gaza’s agricultural land remains usable, with the rest either destroyed or rendered inaccessible.
This environmental and economic collapse spells disaster for the region, where agriculture once supported a tenth of Gaza’s economy and sustained more than 560,000 residents through farming, herding, and fishing.
Destruction by the Numbers: Cropland, Greenhouses, and Water Sources
The joint UN survey paints a grim picture:
89.2% of total cropland damaged.
77.8% of farmland inaccessible to local farmers.
Only 4.6% of land remains cultivable.
71.2% of greenhouses destroyed.
82.8% of agricultural wells no longer functional.
The most critical impacts are seen in Rafah (south) and the northern region, where nearly all cropland is cut off from farmers. This devastation severely limits food production and disrupts an already fragile supply chain.
A Systemic Breakdown: The End of Local Food Production
“This level of destruction is not just a loss of infrastructure—it’s a total collapse of Gaza’s agri-food system,” said Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General of the FAO. “What once provided food, income, and stability for hundreds of thousands is now in ruins.”
Previously, Gaza produced citrus fruits, vegetables, and even exported strawberries and flowers to Europe. Now, this output has ground to a halt.
The FAO estimates over $2 billion in combined damage and losses to Gaza’s agricultural sector since the Israel-Hamas conflict reignited in 2023. Recovery is expected to cost upwards of $4.2 billion, and those estimates have likely increased since renewed hostilities resumed in March 2025.
A Looming Famine: 470,000 at Risk of Starvation
The collapse of agricultural systems coincides with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report released between April 1 and May 10, which warns of an impending famine.
Key findings include:
100% of Gaza’s population faces critical levels of food insecurity.
470,000 people are at risk of catastrophic hunger, with many already enduring starvation conditions.
Ongoing displacement and blockades continue to obstruct humanitarian aid.
These insights highlight the dangerous intersection of war, environmental degradation, and logistical restrictions—all contributing to a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale.
Shrinking Farmland: Buffer Zones Expand as Conflict Escalates
The reduction in cultivable land isn’t new. The shrinking of Gaza’s agricultural territory began during the second intifada (2000–2005), when Israeli forces restricted access to land near the border. After the Israeli military withdrawal in 2005, a 300-meter buffer zone was enforced.
By 2025, this zone expanded to 700 meters to 1.1 kilometers wide, consuming approximately 10% of Gaza’s total area—and a significantly higher portion of its viable farmland. According to the UN, these “access-restricted areas” now encompass 62.6 sq km, or about 35% of Gaza’s arable land.
This systematic expansion of buffer zones has played a major role in choking off Gaza’s self-sufficiency in food production.
Humanitarian and Political Response
While the UN and other international agencies have released urgent warnings, the Israeli government has not issued an official response to the latest findings by the FAO. Humanitarian agencies continue to call for unrestricted aid access, reparation of agricultural infrastructure, and protection of civilian farming zones.
Without intervention, experts warn the famine in Gaza could become one of the most severe humanitarian crises in recent history.
Conclusion: Time is Running Out
Gaza’s agricultural sector—once a symbol of resilience and self-reliance—has all but vanished. The cost of rebuilding will be astronomical, but the cost of inaction is even greater: widespread starvation, social collapse, and long-term economic ruin.
The world must act now to restore basic agricultural functions, remove access restrictions, and ensure humanitarian aid flows freely.