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https://theconversation.com/lebanons-orchards-have-been-burnt-wildlife-habitat-destroyed-by-israeli-strikes-raising-troubling-international-law-questions-271577>
"More than a year after a ceasefire nominally ended active fighting, much of
southern Lebanon bears the ecological scars of war. Avocado orchards are gone
and beehives destroyed. So, too, are the livelihoods they supported. Meanwhile,
fields and forests have disappeared under the intense fire caused by white
phosphorus shelling. Shrapnel and unexploded bombs, however, remain.
Such grim realities are a window into the massive ecological destruction
brought to Lebanon as a result of the 2024 war between Hezbollah and Israel.
The number of Israeli airstrikes from October to November of that year ranked
among the highest globally in the 21st century.
The conflict proved disastrous for human life, with more than 4,000 people
killed, more than 17,000 injured, and 1.2 million civilians displaced
internally. But a relatively uncovered aspect of the destruction was the
significant effects to the environment.
Farmlands, olive groves, and pine forests were extensively burned by Israel’s
airstrikes. Water resources were polluted. Pipelines and waste management were
partially or completely destroyed. And the extensive dropping of ordnance and
debris left a widespread trail of toxic dust and hazardous chemicals.
The damage to Lebanon’s environment will have long-term consequences for the
country’s agriculture and economy, and on its people’s mobility. Repairing the
damage would involve a multi-year reconstruction project costing an estimated
US$11 to $14 billion, according to one World Bank assessment.
As experts in Middle East studies and environmental law, we believe that this
destruction also indicates a grave breach of international environmental law
and raises the question of whether Israel committed war crimes in Lebanon by
deliberately targeting natural resources and engaging in environmental
warfare."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
