Only three percent of Gaza’s farmland remains usable as war restricts access

Satellite analysis by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and UNOSAT shows that only 448 hectares – about three per cent of Gaza’s cropland – remain usable as of August 2026. In October 2025, 601 hectares were still accessible and undamaged, indicating a rapid decline. While just over 4,000 hectares of cropland – about 27 % of the enclave’s farmland – could be reached in June 2026, approximately 3,600 of those hectares were deemed unfit for planting. The most extensive physical damage is concentrated in North Gaza and the Gaza governorate, where destroyed infrastructure and debris dominate the landscape. Recent UN partner reports also note multiple air strikes and shelling west of the Yellow Line, further limiting safe farming activity.

Local testimonies illustrate the human toll behind the statistics. Cucumber and tomato farmer Taysir Dahdouh recounts that the war destroyed the steel frames of his greenhouses, his home, belongings and irrigation pipes, leaving him with nothing. After returning from displacement he and his family managed to rehabilitate roughly one dunum – about one‑tenth of a hectare – using basic tools. Neighbor Wajiha Dahdouh adds that even where land is reclaimed, there is a severe shortage of water, fertilizer, seeds and other inputs needed to sustain production. These gaps prevent farmers from restoring even the minimal area that remains safe.

The principal barrier to expanding cultivation is restricted access, not additional war damage. The “westward expansion” of the Yellow Line – the cease‑fire boundary separating the civilian zone from Israeli‑controlled territory – has pushed the line deeper into Gaza, cutting off fields in Deir al‑Balah, Khan Younis and especially Rafah. In Rafah, 97.2 % of cropland and 98.4 % of greenhouse areas are inaccessible. With 2.1 million residents now confined to an area less than half the enclave’s original size, the loss of arable land threatens local food supplies and heightens reliance on external aid. Restoring safe access and basic agricultural inputs is therefore critical for any recovery of Gaza’s food system.