The devastation in Gaza is not just genocide but also ecocide – the intentional destruction of the ecology. Israel’s assault shows how settler-colonial violence is tied to environmental harm, and why climate justice depends on Palestinian liberation.

The fires burning in Palestine and Los Angeles today are symptoms of the same disease: a system that values conquest over conservation, profit over people, and expansion over existence.

In coming years, eco-apartheid will become more prominent worldwide as colonial violence is used to maintain and safeguard Western interests and profits. We are seeing this future in Gaza today.

The devastation from Hurricane Helene and Israel’s escalation in the Middle East may not seem connected, but they are linked through the United States’s commitment to mass militarization and refusal to work toward a just global future.

The situation in Jenin “continues deteriorating” as it enters its third day under Israeli military siege; meanwhile, in Gaza, displaced Palestinians face frigid temperatures under heavy rainfall.

Writing stories about Gaza does not come only from interviewing and observing but most importantly they come from being a central part of it, as I experience them as any local living here.

Impeding Gaza’s ability to move beyond its own destruction, the blockade is being exacerbated by climate change, and even an hour of rain floods Gaza’s neighborhoods.

As the global climate crisis continues to worsen, many families in Gaza are feeling the devastating effects of climate change. These impacts are compounded by Israel’s 14-year siege on the territory as well as repeated attacks, including the war last May. Hussni Mohanna, the spokesperson for Gaza City’s emergency committee, tells Mondoweiss that the city tries its best to alleviate the infrastructural issues caused by the wars, but the odds are stacked against them. With the limited budget and resources it has, it cannot keep up with the rapidly changing climate. 

There are conflicting reports whether the Sierra Club has canceled plans for educational trips to Israel that were supposed to begin this month. It was originally reported that the environmental organization made the decision to cancel the trip after discussions between members of its board and a coalition of Palestine advocacy groups. But now, the Times of Israel is reporting the environmental organization has buckled under pressure from the Israel lobby.

The biggest obstacle to saving the fragile ecosystems of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea is Israel.