Abstract

The Gaza Strip, located along the southeastern Mediterranean coast, supports marine ecosystems of high ecological and socioeconomic importance. Prior to October 2023, these ecosystems were already under chronic environmental stress due to inadequate wastewater treatment, persistent marine pollution, habitat degradation, overfishing, and long-standing infrastructural constraints. However, the ongoing Israeli war of genocide and ethnic cleansing (2023-2026) has dramatically intensified these pressures, leading to unprecedented deterioration of marine and coastal environments. This study presents a qualitative environmental assessment of the war’s impacts on the marine ecosystem of the Gaza Strip through the synthesis of scientific literature, institutional reports, fisheries data, environmental assessments, and field observations, with comparisons between pre-war and wartime conditions.
The findings indicate severe degradation in marine water quality driven by the collapse of wastewater treatment systems and the discharge of large volumes of untreated sewage, mixed hazardous effluents, and solid waste. Significant ecological consequences include sediment contamination, habitat degradation, biodiversity loss, disruption of ecosystem functioning, and the near-total collapse of fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The generation of more than 68 million metric tons of war-related rubble containing hazardous materials has further intensified contamination risks, with potential long-term impacts on marine sediments and food webs. In addition, oceanographic connectivity raises concerns regarding possible transboundary environmental effects across the southeastern Mediterranean Sea. While war-derived debris presents a major environmental burden, carefully decontaminated materials may offer future opportunities for ecological restoration through artificial reef and coastal rehabilitation initiatives. The study concludes that the environmental consequences of the ongoing war extend far beyond immediate humanitarian impacts, representing a severe case of marine ecosystem degradation with long-term regional implications. Comprehensive environmental remediation, habitat restoration, infrastructure rehabilitation, and sustained monitoring are essential for future ecological recovery.

Keywords:Mediterranean Sea; Gaza strip; Marine ecosystem; Environmental impacts; Wastewater discharge; Sediment contamination; Coastal habitats; Biodiversity loss; Fisheries collapse; Aquaculture; Wadi Gaza; Al-Mawasi; Ecological restoration; Artificial reefs; Artificial islands and Palestine