The ecological fallout of Israel’s war in Gaza, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) designated November 6 as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.
• The International Law Commission (ILC) adopted 27 draft principles on ‘Protection of the Environment in Relation to Armed Conflicts’ (PERAC) in 2022, formally noted by the UNGA in December 2022.
• A September 2025 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report documented unprecedented environmental devastation in Gaza, including a 97% loss of tree crops and severe freshwater contamination.
• Approximately 78% of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed, generating around 61 million tonnes of debris.
• Israel, as an occupying power, is held responsible for internationally wrongful acts causing environmental harm and violating environmental obligations under PERAC principles.

Environment in War.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• The PERAC principles extend environmental protection to periods before, during, and after armed conflicts, encompassing situations of occupation.
• As an occupying power, Israel is obligated to administer and use natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) for the benefit of the protected population.
• The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in its July 2024 advisory opinion, acknowledged Israel's systematic extraction of natural resources from the OPT.
• These actions violate environmental protection duties and infringe upon the Palestinian people’s collective rights, including their permanent sovereignty over natural resources.
• PERAC Principle 9 mandates that states causing environmental damage in armed conflict bear international responsibility and must provide full reparation.
• The ongoing environmental devastation in Palestine is considered a serious breach of international law, intensified since October 7, 2023.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Protection of the Environment in Relation to Armed Conflicts (PERAC): A set of 27 draft principles adopted by the ILC to enhance environmental protection before, during, and after armed conflicts.
• Occupying Power: A state that exercises effective control over territory not its own, incurring specific obligations under international humanitarian law.
• Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources: The right of peoples and nations to freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources, a fundamental principle of international law.