UN Report: Only 3% of Gaza Farmland Usable Amid Tightened Access Restrictions

A recent United Nations assessment has found that a mere 3 percent of farmland in Gaza remains both accessible and undamaged, underscoring the severe impact of ongoing access restrictions on agricultural productivity.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) conducted the study using satellite imagery and geospatial analysis as of June 24, 2026. The findings indicate a sharp decline from 601 hectares in October 2025 to 448 hectares currently available for farming—a 25.5 percent reduction.

Extent of Farmland Damage and Inaccessibility

• Of the 4,091 hectares of cropland still accessible, 3,643 hectares have sustained damage and require rehabilitation before they can be farmed again.
• Areas such as Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis experienced the largest decreases in usable farmland.
• Rafah saw the highest level of inaccessibility, with 97.2 percent of its cropland out of reach and 98.4 percent of greenhouse farming areas inaccessible.

Factors Contributing to Decline

FAO attributes the worsening situation primarily to expanded access restrictions following the ceasefire declared in October 2025, notably the extension of the so-called “Yellow Line” separating ceasefire zones from military-controlled areas.

Shortages of essential agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, irrigation equipment, fuel, livestock feed, and veterinary supplies further compound the crisis.

Implications and Calls for Action

Before the recent escalation of conflict in October 2023, agriculture accounted for about 10 percent of Gaza's economy and supported over 560,000 people through crop production, livestock, and fishing.

FAO urges for immediate measures to restore safe access for Palestinian farmers, facilitate the entry of vital agricultural supplies, and rehabilitate damaged farmland to revive local food production.

“Without urgent action to restore safe access and provide farmers with the support they need, opportunities to restore local food production will continue to diminish,” said Rein Paulsen, Director of FAO’s Office of Emergencies and Resilience.