The ecological fallout of Israel’s war in Gaza

On November 5, 2001, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) designated November 6 each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. This recognition underscores the far-reaching impacts of environmental damage caused by armed conflict, including degradation of ecosystems and resource depletion well after the conflict period.

This impact often extends beyond the limits of national territories and affects future generations. Considering the importance of the issue, the International Law Commission (ILC), in its report titled ‘Protection of the Environment in Relation to Armed Conflicts’ (PERAC), adopted 27 draft principles in 2022, which were formally noted by the UNGA on December 7, 2022.

The overarching purpose of these principles is to enhance the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts. The first principle of the PERAC provides that the principles apply to the protection of the environment before, during and after an armed conflict, including in situations of occupation.

In this context, Israel’s responsibility for internationally wrongful acts causing environmental harm arises not only from its ongoing genocide in Gaza but also from its continuing role as an occupying power.