Report - White phosphorus destroying agricultural land as well as lives

A report from MEMO - Middle East Monitor, flags up the impact of the 3,500 white phosphorus shells that Israel dropped on Gaza. The effects on civilians are known but its long-term impact on agricultural land has not been documented. Gazans now report that trees are wilting, leaves turning yellow and land falling barren where the shells landed.

...However, the effects of white phosphorous have been found to extend to agricultural land and produce. In regions in the East of the Gaza Strip, such as the vicinity of Mount Rais, trees growing in land hit by phosphorous shells have become noticeably yellow in color. Gaza's ministry of agriculture confirmed that after the end of the military operation, it endeavored to prevent farmers growing crops or grazing animals on agricultural that had been shelled. Similarly, it warned against using water from shelled wells. These actions emphasize the belief that Israel used shells containing toxic, carcinogenic and radioactive material which directly affect the environment and render areas hit by such shells, dangerous to human health and to animals.

Many agricultural areas used for cultivating herbs and plants that were hit by Israeli weapons are now barren, or the trees have dried up a lot. On land that was hit by more than one shell, the situation is worse. However, a few months after the war, other effects of these banned weapons started to become evident. New plants and emerging plant shoots began showing genetic mutations such as physical distortions and yellowing. Many farmers also complain of the stunted growth of their agricultural crops, tress erosion and falling branches. Produce has become small and the yield from harvests is low while the situation continues to worsen. more

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