UN: Gaza in agricultural collapse, only 5% of land remains arable

The United Nations has warned that less than 5% of Gaza's land is currently suitable for cultivation, due to massive damage caused by the war and strict access restrictions.

"This level of destruction is not just a loss of infrastructure, it is the collapse of the agri-food system and lifelines in Gaza," said the deputy director-general of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

According to the report, currently only 668 hectares of land, representing 4.6% of Gaza's total area, are available for agriculture. Before the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in late 2023, farmers in Gaza had managed to cultivate fruits, dates and olives, despite the high population density and existing restrictions.

The UN points out that over 80% of arable land has been severely damaged by the bombing, making it almost impossible to produce food and restore livelihoods for thousands of families.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in the territory worsens every day. At least 24 Palestinians, including children, were killed during two Israeli airstrikes overnight in the Gaza Strip, the Civil Defense and local medical staff reported.

One of the worst attacks hit the Fahmi Al-Jargawi school in Gaza City, which was housing hundreds of families displaced from Beit Lahia. The Civil Defense reported that 20 bodies, including many children, were pulled from the rubble after flames engulfed several classrooms converted into emergency housing.

The Israeli military said it had struck a "command and control center" of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, accusing the militant groups of using civilians as human shields.

"There were flames everywhere. I saw burnt bodies lying on the ground," said Rami Rafiq, a local resident who saw the aftermath of the attack up close.

Another airstrike hit a home in central Gaza City, killing four more people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. On Friday, another Israeli strike killed nine of the 10 children of Palestinian doctor Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, while her 11-year-old son and husband are in critical condition.

On Saturday, the Red Cross confirmed the killing of two of its employees in an attack on their apartment in Khan Younis, strongly condemning the loss of civilian lives.

The situation continues to be dramatic due to the 11-week Israeli blockade, with humanitarian aid entering only in minimal quantities.

On Sunday, an international meeting was held in Madrid with representatives from 20 countries and organizations, where a halt to the war was discussed and an international arms embargo on Israel was proposed if military operations are not stopped.

Since the outbreak of the conflict on October 7, 2023, over 53,900 people have been killed in Gaza, including at least 16,500 children, according to official data from the territory's health ministry.