Gaza olive production collapses amid land destruction

The olive industry in the Gaza Strip has faced catastrophic declines due to military activity and land restrictions. Gaza’s agriculture authorities estimate that out of 2 million olive trees, only about 150,000 remain standing.

Local farmers report that many orchards have been bulldozed or are inaccessible due to the “yellow line” guarded by Israeli troops, which restricts Palestinian access to large portions of the territory. For families who previously relied on olive harvests for their livelihoods, the impact is severe. For example, one family orchard that once spanned 220 acres and produced up to 1,500 tons of olives is now reduced to a handful of standing trees.

Projections for the current season indicate a massive drop in production. Authorities anticipate a harvest of approximately 5,000 tons of olives and 700 tons of oil, a significant decrease from the pre-war norms of 40,000 tons of olives and 5,000 tons of oil.