CEASEFIRE 🍉

Out of roughly 2 million olive trees in Gaza before October 2023, only 150,000 trees remain standing. This is a loss of roughly 85% to 90% of the region's olive groves. Ecocide is the deliberate, widespread destruction of natural ecosystems necessary to sustain human life. Many experts would agree that Israel's systematic destruction of Palestinian farmlands, aquifers, and trees would qualify as ecocide. Under international humanitarian law including the Geneva Conventions, any objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population like agricultural areas are granted special protections during conflict. Olive oil and table olives are crucial to Gaza's local agricultural economy, but in Palestinian culture, olive trees are much more than just a commodity. They are symbols of continuity, resilience, and attachment to the soil. Many groves are hundreds of years old and passed down through generations. Unlike annual crops like tomatoes or cucumbers that can be replanted and harvested in a single season, mature olive trees represent decades of invested capital. Losing them wipes out a reliable source of income for thousands of families, leaving them dependent on foreign aid.