Gaza: A new report issued by the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture states that Gaza’s agricultural sector suffered unprecedented and widespread destruction during the war between 2023 and 2025, leaving the territory’s agricultural production system nearly paralyzed. According to the report, more than 85 percent of most agricultural sectors were damaged. The assessment is based on high-resolution aerial imagery, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and official agricultural databases.
The report estimates the total losses at approximately $3.49 billion, including $1.90 billion in direct damage and $1.59 billion in indirect losses.
According to the report, the sharp decline in crop production has significantly reduced Gaza’s capacity to produce food locally. Out of 182,247 dunums of cultivated farmland, 158,909 dunums were damaged, accounting for 87.1 percent of the territory’s agricultural land.
The report further states that Gaza’s agricultural irrigation system has almost completely collapsed. Around 8,700 agricultural water wells have been rendered completely inoperative, while 3,828 agricultural water reservoirs were damaged and 1,371 kilometres of agricultural water pipelines were destroyed, severely affecting water availability for farming.
The livestock sector also sustained extensive damage. According to the report, the sector suffered 90.3 percent damage, with the destruction of more than 5,450 livestock farms and 2,300 poultry farms. It also documented the deaths of approximately 69,000 livestock animals and 2.79 million poultry, while 28,400 beehives were damaged, reflecting severe losses across the animal production sector.
The fishing industry was also heavily affected. The report states that 1,674 fishing vessels and boats, seven fish farms, and approximately 450 dual-use fish ponds were damaged. Gaza’s only fish hatchery was also destroyed, bringing fishing and aquaculture activities close to a standstill.
The report also highlights extensive damage to agricultural infrastructure. Nearly 93 plant nurseries, 18 hatcheries, and 134 agricultural cold-storage facilities were almost completely destroyed. In addition, government agricultural centres, veterinary laboratories, research stations, water treatment facilities, fishermen’s ports, and other related agricultural service infrastructure sustained significant damage.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture, the unprecedented destruction has left Gaza’s agricultural production system virtually non-functional, further worsening food insecurity across the territory. The ministry said that thousands of families have lost their livelihoods and are now increasingly dependent on humanitarian and emergency assistance.
The report calls on the international community, United Nations agencies, and donor organisations to take immediate action to support the recovery and rehabilitation of Gaza’s agricultural sector, rebuild its infrastructure, and help farmers, fishermen, and livestock breeders resume production to strengthen food security and support Gaza’s economic recovery.