APN | Amman

6 March 2024

 

APN participated as a panelist in the session titled "Understanding the Environmental Damage in Gaza: Measurement and Evaluation" at the Second Annual Conference on Conflict, Climate Change, and the Environment in the MENA Region. The event was organized by the Arab Reform Initiative and took place in Amman from 6 – 7 March 2024.

During the panel, APN Advocacy and Research Officer, Lisa Shahin, stressed that one cannot discuss the current environmental destruction in Gaza without considering the broader context: Palestine has been under occupation for 75 years that stripped Palestinians of their land and natural resources. The current situation entails an escalation of the occupation's old tactic of collective punishment and weaponization of the environment. She stressed that environmental damage in Gaza is a military objective, not collateral damage, as evidenced by the footage shared by Gazans. These are not short-term losses, but deliberate, prolonged setbacks imposed by the occupation.

She further stressed the lack of clear guidelines and standards for assessing environmental damage during conflict, highlighting significant gaps in data collection and utilization. Emphasizing the importance of local ownership of data, she urged for enhanced capacity building among government agencies, civil society organizations, and local research centers to document evidence of environmental harm effectively.

In conclusion, she concluded by asserting that environmental justice involves holding Israel accountable and compelling it to adhere to international law, which prohibits the destruction of the environment and the weaponization of food systems, while also ensuring full reparation.