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Gaza cropland access drops as only 3% remains undamaged
A joint assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UNOSAT reveals that only 3% of Gaza's cropland remains both accessible and undamaged. Since October 2025, the area of undamaged, accessible cropland has fallen by 25.5%, dropping from 601 hectares to 448 hectares.
While approximately 27% of Gaza's agricultural land remains physically accessible, most of it has sustained heavy damage requiring significant rehabilitation. An additional 3,643 hectares are accessible but currently unfit for farming without such work. The situation is most severe in Rafah, where over 97% of arable land is no longer accessible.
The decline in usable land is primarily attributed to the westward expansion of the 'Yellow Line,' a boundary separating the ceasefire zone from areas under Israeli military control. Rein Paulsen, FAO Director of the Office of Emergencies and Resilience, warned that without urgent action to restore safe access, opportunities to recover local food production will continue to diminish. Additionally, restrictions on imports are hindering recovery by limiting access to seeds, fertilizers, and animal feed.
Entities
Food and Agriculture Organization · Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations · Gaza · Gaza Strip · Israel · Rein Paulsen · UNOSAT · United Nations · United Nations Satellite Centre
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Prior to October 2023, agriculture supported over 560,000 livelihoods and accounted for approximately 10% of Gaza's economy. arynews.tv · www.newarab.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] Only 3% of the cropland in Gaza remains accessible and undamaged. www.insider.gr · arynews.tv · athina984.gr · www.newarab.com · www.naiz.eus
- [● 4 SOURCES] In the Rafah region, over 97% of arable land is no longer accessible. www.insider.gr · athina984.gr · www.naiz.eus
- [● 6 SOURCES] The reduction in land access is attributed to the westward expansion of the 'Yellow Line' separating the ceasefire zone from Israeli-controlled areas. www.insider.gr · arynews.tv · athina984.gr · www.newarab.com · www.naiz.eus
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Gaza health ministry reports that Israel's military campaign has killed more than 73,000 people. arynews.tv · www.newarab.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] An additional 3,643 hectares of cropland are accessible but require rehabilitation before they can be farmed. arynews.tv · www.newarab.com · www.naiz.eus
- [● 5 SOURCES] Undamaged and accessible cropland decreased from 601 hectares in October 2025 to 448 hectares by late June 2026. www.insider.gr · arynews.tv · athina984.gr · www.newarab.com · www.naiz.eus
- [● 2 SOURCES] Undamaged greenhouse availability dropped 17.3 percent since October 2025 to 224 hectares. arynews.tv · www.newarab.com