Militarism and the Environment: Impacts on Palestine

Wednesday, March 20th, 2024

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM EST

With Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh

Many wars and genocides in Western Asia over the past 75 years have displaced people from their homelands and have left ecological devastation. The current genocide being committed on the Gaza strip is an ongoing case of the ways militaristic violence disposes of land and people. Our interests as environmentalists are the effects of war (including pre-war activities, active war, and post war impact). Here we review impacts on the Palestinian environment from activities since 1948 (establishment of the state of Israel): pre-occupation (such as training sites, military bases, military installation), during occupation (use of different munitions, pollution, altering habitats), and post-occupation (unexploded munitions, groundwater pollution, devastated landscape). The data show significant, short-term and long-term environmental damage. While more studies are needed and encouraged, the data shows that environmental and human health impacts need to be more prominently highlighted in public discourse, and remedial actions must be taken in deteriorating situations like Israel’s occupation of Palestine.