The Environmental Cost of War in Gaza

Lucile Dudrey-Harvey on 1 March 2025

Our environment is often an overlooked casualty of war. However, the severe waste contamination in Gaza—resulting from infrastructure collapse and military violence over the past 15 months—has shone a harsh light on the undeniable impact of conflict on our fragile ecosystem.

UN reports have stated approximately 97% of Gaza’s water is undrinkable due to the destruction of infrastructure, primarily the breakdown of sewage and waste management facilities. This has resulted in the accumulation of 39 million tonnes of debris and contamination of irrigation systems, leading to the death of livestock such as goats and cattle, as well as financially depleting the fishing and agriculture sector. Consequently, food security for the human population has decreased and the environment has faced extreme loss of natural habitats and contamination of air, soil and water. Gaza’s Mediterranean coast, a vibrant rich ecosystem teeming with coral reefs and hundreds of species of fish, has been made a hostile environment through underwater explosions and oil spills. 

Satellite images further reveal that around 80% of Gaza’s trees have been lost, while two-thirds of its farmlands have been damaged or destroyed by military bombardment—an ecological catastrophe that accelerates desertification and reduces carbon absorption. Such evidence underscores that, as with all environmental crises, the repercussions of this war extend far beyond Gaza. Every ecosystem plays a crucial role in maintaining our atmosphere and mitigating global warming, and it is important to consider the immense wealth this Mediterranean territory provides. 

This large-scale environmental degradation not only affects land and water resources but also threatens the region’s rich biodiversity. Palestine is characterised by its highly diverse topography, home to around 50,000 living species, constituting 3% of global biodiversity. In Gaza, direct bombings and pollution have inflicted severe damage on coastal areas, which provides vital feeding grounds to native migratory birds such as the turtle dove; a once abundant symbol of peace that is now tragically facing endangerment. 

Other animals, such as the Palestine sunbird and Arabian gazelle, have been pushed closer to extinction, while experts estimate a 40% decline in biodiversity since the 2000s, affecting countless more species. However, there is still the possibility of recovering these numbers, especially in light of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas enacted on January 19th 2025, which provides a window for environmental justice in this war torn area. The relief from bombardement will reduce further loss of habitat areas and fatality of wildlife through injury, although even with this respite, we can expect the consequences of contamination and pollution to have much longer lasting effects. 

As with most climate crises, it can be tempting to label the situation as hopeless. However, doing so would underestimate the humanitarian support that continues to exist in Gaza, even after more than 50 years of occupation. In 2022, for the first time in over a decade, Palestenians were able to swim in the ocean during the summer thanks to a community-led beach clean up and years of lobbying for improved sewage systems. More recently, even amid ongoing conflict, Gaza witnessed the installation of a desalination plant by the UAE in December 2023, providing 4.5 million liters of clean water. In March 2024, additional water pumping facilities were introduced, supplying clean water to over 200,000 residents in northern Gaza.

These efforts align with broader environmental commitments, such as Palestine’s participation in the Paris Agreement, which signals a long-term ambition to mitigate ecological harm. We can hope to see aims in reducing the environmental impact with projects such as replanting or soil decontamination. However, such processes are long and costly, often relying on charity aid and local involvement, which is further impeded by the fact many are facing tragic loss, medical issues or are suffering due to the lack of food and shelter. 

Human and environmental crises are deeply connected—one cannot be addressed without the other. Only through awareness and collective action can one expect to see the restoration of both Gaza’s environment and the lives that depend on it.

Words by Lucile Dudrey-Harvey

“Leeds Students Welcome Refugees” – Student Societies Show Solidarity with Ukraine

Harriet Purbrick on 28 March 2022

The LUU societies STAR (Student Action for Refugees) and Amnesty International have been organising displays of solidarity with Ukraine around campus. 

Soon after Russia invaded Ukraine, STAR created a banner with the Ukrainian flag in the centre, around which students could write messages of support. This banner was then hung up in the LUU foyer. 

Messages written by students included “justice for the POC fleeing Ukraine” in response to myriad stories of people of colour facing racist discriminiation both as they leave Ukraine and as they try to settle into countries taking in refugees like Poland. Another student wished to show solidarity with ordinary Russians, some of whom have publicly protested the unprovoked invasion, leading to mass arrests, and others have fled to neighbouring countries like Finland, writing “Putin’s war not Russia’s war.” 

Similarly, Amnesty members wrote messages in chalk around campus. Many students protested the British government’s refusal to take in refugees, including turning away 300 at the Channel Crossing at Calais. This response is part of the Home Office’s strategy to neglect their responsibility to take in refugees by passing the controversial Nationality and Borders bill which would leave most refugees seeking asylum with a lesser status with fewer rights (clause 11) and which empowers the Home Office to strip British nationals of their citizenship without notice (clause 9). 

As Rona, the President of LUU Amnesty said, “Our campaign this semester is based on the Nationality and Borders bill, so our aim is to get as many as possible to know about it. We thought the best way to do this was by writing messages in chalk either supporting the refugees coming to the UK or in opposition to the government. Initially it was just about refugees coming to the UK but as the Ukraine war became more of an issue, we knew we had to tie it in somehow. The slogan “no one is illegal” really encapsulates our mindset and Amnesty’s whole stance on the refugee crisis.” 

Last week, LUU Amnesty held their biannual live music event Jamnesty and raised £1044 to be split equally between Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network which supports refugees and asylum seekers in Leeds and Amnesty International.

LUU Amnesty are continuing to raise money for the charities by selling hand-printed tote bags. Purchases can be made on Engage for £5.50. 

Tensions rise in Ukraine following Russian Invasion

George Bolger on 14 March 2022

Tensions in Europe have drastically risen again in the last couple of weeks with Russia launching a full out invasion of Ukraine, the first major political conflict in Europe since the Second World War.

Russian forces have attempted a full-scale assault on Ukraine, with its military attacking the country from the north, east and south targeting key points of interest including the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

It has also attacked major cities and areas of strategic importance to the east of the country including several key airstrikes in both the second city of Kharkiv to the east and the port city Mariupol which is home to over 500,000 people.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has defended his actions claiming the invasion is necessary to defend Russian sovereignty and protect the East from increased NATO influence in the region. 

Putin’s actions have been condemned by numerous politicians and heads of state across the globe including President Biden who stated, ‘this invasion will cost Russia dearly’.

In response to the invasion, several countries including the UK, have placed their most severe sanctions to date on the Russian state, including targeting Russian financial institutions, multinational companies and individuals in the UK with ties to the Putin regime. 

Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who has links to Arsenal and Everton football clubs, is one individual targeted, as well as former Russian deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov, who has had imposed a travel ban and full asset freeze. 

Moreover, the London Stock Exchange has ceased trading with major Russian firms such as EN+, Gazprom, Lukoil, Rosneft and Sberbank as of 3 March 2022, significantly limiting Russia’s capability to trade in pound sterling with similar sanctions from the US and impacts of trade in US Dollars for the state. 

The US, EU, UK and other allies say they have agreed to remove some Russian banks from the Swift payments system also significantly impacting the Russian economy.

Despite the heavy sanctions and global condemnation, Putin continues his offensive campaign into Ukraine this week with the missile shelling and capture of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhia in the South East of the country. 

Russian forces have also taken over the infamous Chernobyl nuclear station in the North, whilst Ukrainian cities and points of interest are still under attack from Russian airstrikes.

These have reportedly resulted in 2 civilians being killed in the city of Zhytomyr, west of the capital Kyiv, as well as strikes on oil depots in the capital.

Further strikes on oil depots in the town of Vasylkiv, in central Ukraine, close to Kyiv have seen the mayor raise his concern for the toxic fumes that have resulted from the aftermath.

The consequence of the conflict has formed a new, severe refugee crisis on the continent with thousands of Ukrainian people being forced to evacuate their homes and flee to neighbouring countries such as Poland to the north.

BBC News has reported a 27-hour-long queue of women and children on the Moldovan border as of 4th March. 

From this, further controversies have also risen with foreign nationals living and studying in Ukraine reportedly struggling to be able to leave the country. 

Students of African and South Asian origin are reportedly being passed over for aid and evacuation assistance over Ukrainian nationals, according to some sources.

In order to protect citizens from oncoming attacks and retaliation from Ukrainian forces, President Zolensky of Ukraine has introduced a curfew in the capital from Saturday evening to Monday morning. 

Kyiv’s Mayor and former heavyweight Boxer Vitali Klitschko has stated anyone seen on the streets during this time will be considered a ‘Russian saboteur’ and will be liable to attack from the Ukrainian forces. 

This news follows shortly after air raid sirens were heard in the capital on the 3 March at around 10pm at night signalling more Russian missiles inbound to the capital.

Despite the continued attack on Ukrainian sovereignty and democracy from the Russian state, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has stated they do not believe the Russian forces are progressing as initially planned “They are suffering from logistical challenges and strong Ukrainian resistance,” a short statement released on Twitter reads.

The MoD said Russian forces have sustained casualties and some have been taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces. 

Nevertheless, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has commented saying she believes this conflict could continue for a considerable amount of years with no clear diplomatic solution in sight as of now.

The Afghanistan Files: Drone strikes in the age of forever wars

Josh Bate on 25 January 2022

The military withdrawal in Afghanistan represents a rejection of the forever war, a concept given to a conflict that never ends. However, the rampant use of drones as a tool of Extrajudicial killing suggests otherwise. Josh Bate reports on the fatal consequences of targeted killing in Afghanistan and what it might indicate for future governments.

Essay: Is a US/China war inevitable?

Josh Bate on 7 December 2021

With military build up on both sides of the globe, it is time to question whether a conflict is on the horizon. Josh Bate discusses the possibility of conflict and what it might look like giving a historic and contemporary context.