Just 3 percent of the Gaza Strip's cropland remains both accessible and undamaged, according to a new geospatial assessment released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT). As of 24 June 2026, 27 percent of Gaza's total cropland were accessible, but only 448 of those hectares were free of damage. The remaining accessible hectares were damaged and would require rehabilitation before cultivation could resume.
Since October 2025, the area of accessible and undamaged cropland has fallen from 601 hectares to 448 hectares — a loss of 153 hectares, or 25.5 percent. Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis recorded the largest reductions. The assessment attributes this decline primarily to reduced access to farmland following the October 2025 ceasefire, associated with the westward expansion of the so-called "Yellow Line" separating the ceasefire zone from the military-controlled area. The findings indicate that reduced access — not additional physical damage — has been the primary driver of declining agricultural land availability since October 2025.
Rafah faces the most severe access constraints, with 97.2 percent of its cropland and 98.4 percent of its greenhouse area inaccessible. The most extensive physical damage remains concentrated in North Gaza and Gaza governorates. Greenhouse availability also declined: 224 hectares, or 16.6 percent of greenhouse area, remained accessible and undamaged, down from 226 hectares, or 17.3 percent, in October 2025, with Deir al-Balah recording the largest decrease.
Farmers also face critical shortages of seeds, fertilizers, irrigation equipment, fuel and other production materials. Livestock keepers struggle to obtain feed, veterinary supplies and animal health services, and FAO's ability to import feed and other materials needed to protect and restock herds remains inconsistent. Available agricultural inputs are often of declining quality and priced beyond the reach of farming households.
Before hostilities escalated in October 2023, agriculture accounted for about 10 percent of Gaza's economy and supported the livelihoods of more than 560,000 people through crop production, livestock rearing and fishing.
Rein Paulsen, Director of FAO's Office of Emergencies and Resilience, said the assessment "paints a stark picture of the continued deterioration of Gaza's agriculture sector," adding that "the loss of access to farmland is further shrinking the space available for farmers to produce food, even where agricultural assets remain physically intact." He noted that farmers in Gaza "have shown time and again that when land and inputs are available, production is possible," but warned that "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."
FAO called for urgent and sustained action to restore agricultural production in Gaza, including ensuring farmers can safely access their land, facilitating the entry of essential agricultural inputs — including commercial imports of non-dual-use items — and supporting the rehabilitation of damaged farmland.
Several verified sources, together with artificial intelligence, were used in the preparation of this article. The content was reviewed by our editorial team prior to publication. Disclosure provided in accordance with Article 50 of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act).
