Each square metre of land in Gaza contains over 107 kilograms (236 lbs) of debris.
Explosive weapons used in Gaza conflict generated 39 million tons of debris.
Israel's destruction of solar infrastructure led to contaminants leaking into soil from broken panels.
Thousands of tons of humanitarian aid intended for Gaza remain stranded due to security concerns and anarchy in the region.
War reversed progress made in improving water desalination and wastewater treatment facilities, leaving all environmental systems defunct.
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, both sides have suffered significant losses. While the focus has been on the military actions and political tensions, there are other pressing issues that have been overlooked. The environmental damage caused by the war in Gaza is a major concern that requires immediate attention.
According to reports from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), explosive weapons used during the conflict have generated 39 million tons of debris in the Gaza Strip. Each square metre of land in Gaza now contains over 107 kilograms (236 lbs) of debris.
The war has reversed progress made in improving water desalination and wastewater treatment facilities, leaving all environmental systems defunct. Israel's destruction of a large proportion of Gaza's solar infrastructure has also led to contaminants leaking into the soil from broken panels.
Meanwhile, humanitarian aid intended for the people of Gaza remains stranded due to security concerns and anarchy in the region. Thousands of tons of food, fuel, and medicine are ready to be sent but are unable to reach those who need it most.
Asmahan al-Masri and her family live at a camp near al-Aqsa University in Khan Younis, where they face clouds of flies, sometimes snakes, and stray dogs. Over 330,400 tonnes of solid waste have built up in the Palestinian territory in eight months.
The situation is dire for the people of Gaza as they struggle to access basic necessities while dealing with the aftermath of the conflict. It is crucial that all parties involved prioritize humanitarian aid and work towards restoring essential services.
Thousands of tons of supplies remain stranded in southern Gaza due to dangerous conditions and anarchy.
Aid officials describe organized attacks by armed gangs on trucks carrying aid.
No police or rule of law in the area surrounding the crossing has made roads highly dangerous.
Accuracy
Over 330,400 tonnes of solid waste have built up in the Palestinian territory in eight months.
Israel's military has blocked access to Gaza’s two main landfill sites since the Hamas-led attacks in October 2021.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting and sensationalism. The authors focus on the stranded supplies and the dangerous conditions in Gaza while downplaying or omitting information about Israel's actions that led to these issues. They also use emotional language to manipulate readers' emotions, such as 'desperate Palestinian civilians,' 'extreme anarchy,' and 'grim scenario.'
There are now thousands of tons of food, medicine and other supplies stuck on the Gaza side of a border crossing mere miles from Palestinians who need them, the officials say.
Thousands of tons of supplies remain stranded in southern Gaza because conditions are too dangerous to move it.
Armed attackers shoot at the trucks, force them to stop and sometimes beat the drivers before stripping the trucks of their contents.
Fallacies
(80%)
The article contains several instances of appeals to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. The authors quote aid officials and UN spokespersons describing the situation in Gaza as 'anarchy,' 'chaos,' and a 'lack of police or rule of law.' These descriptions are subjective opinions, but they are presented as objective facts. Additionally, the authors use phrases like 'extreme anarchy' and 'near-total freedom' to exaggerate the situation. This inflammatory rhetoric lowers the overall score.
aid officials and others say
There are now thousands of tons of food, medicine and other supplies stuck on the Gaza side of a border crossing mere miles from Palestinians who need them, the officials say.
The person described the attacks as coordinated and organized, not the spontaneous lootings by desperate Gazan civilians that vexed aid convoys in earlier months of the war.
Armed attackers shoot at the trucks, force them to stop and sometimes beat the drivers before stripping the trucks of their contents.
The Israeli military has said it is examining five of the attacks for possible criminal investigation, but it said ‘remedies at the international level are also necessary to address the accountability gap.’
A commercial ship disabled in a Houthi attack last week is believed to have sunk, according to a British maritime agency.
The U.N. Environmental Program found that the millions of tons of rubble contained unexploded ordnance, asbestos and other hazardous substances, as well as human remains.
Bias
(75%)
The article describes the extreme anarchy and lack of rule of law in Gaza, which has resulted in thousands of tons of humanitarian aid being stranded at the border. The authors also mention that armed criminal gangs are operating with near-total freedom in the area and attacking trucks carrying aid, forcing them to stop and strip them of their contents. This creates a dangerous situation for both relief workers and commercial truck drivers trying to deliver supplies to Gaza.
Armed attackers shoot at the trucks, force them to stop and sometimes beat the drivers before stripping the trucks of their contents.
The person described the attacks as coordinated and organized, not the spontaneous lootings by desperate Gazan civilians that vexed aid convoys in earlier months of the war.
Over 330,400 tonnes of solid waste have built up in the Palestinian territory in eight months according to UN and humanitarian agencies
Asmahan al-Masri and her family live at a camp near al-Aqsa University with clouds of flies, sometimes snakes, and stray dogs
Ali Nasser’s family recently moved to the al-Aqsa University campsite from Rafah due to lack of suitable living conditions
Accuracy
More than 39 million tons of debris remain in Gaza after eight months of fighting between Israel and Hamas
Deception
(30%)
The article by Yolande Knell contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author focuses on the negative living conditions of Gazans, specifically those related to rubbish and waste disposal. While it is true that these conditions are a problem, the article fails to mention any efforts being made to address the issue or provide context for why these conditions exist. This creates a one-sided narrative that manipulates emotions by painting a picture of despair and hopelessness in Gaza. Additionally, there are several instances of emotional language used by sources quoted in the article, such as 'this is like a slow death' and 'just the smell of rubbish', which further adds to the emotional manipulation.
Across the Gaza Strip, in a landscape newly transformed by war, mountains of stinking rubbish pose severe dangers to health and the environment.
The smell is very disturbing. I keep my tent door open so that I can get some air, but there is no air, just the smell of rubbish.
We cry just like any other grandmother would over her grandchildren being sick and having scabies. This is like a slow death. There is no dignity.
Fallacies
(75%)
The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the mountains of rubbish as 'severe dangers to health and the environment' and 'disturbing'. She also quotes Asmahan al-Masri using emotional language such as 'slow death' and 'no dignity'. These are not logical arguments, but rather attempts to elicit an emotional response from the reader.
]We've never lived next to rubbish before[
The smell is very disturbing. I keep my tent door open so that I can get some air, but there is no air, just the smell of rubbish[
Desperation across Gaza is forcing many, like Mohamed, to scavenge for something to eat, use or sell[
We searched everywhere for a suitable place, but we are 18 people with our children and grandchildren, and we couldn't find anywhere else where we could stay together[
The journey here cost us over 1,000 shekels ($268; £212) and now our finances are destroyed. We have no jobs, no income, and so we are forced to live in this dire situation. We suffer from vomiting, diarrhoea, and constantly itchy skin[
Thousands of tons of food, fuel and medicine are ready to be sent to Gaza but are unable to reach the people who need it.
Israel has enforced rules that block trucks meant for Gaza, citing security concerns.
Accuracy
Egypt has blocked aid from reaching Gaza in protest of Israel’s military operations.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The author makes several assertions in the article, some of which contain fallacies. However, the majority of the text is reporting on statements made by others and does not contain any explicit fallacies. The author does make an appeal to authority when quoting Jeremy Konyndyk's opinion on Israel's actions. Additionally, there are some instances of inflammatory rhetoric used to describe Hamas' actions, but these do not rise to the level of a formal fallacy. Overall, the article contains few fallacies and I would rate it as having a score of 95.
“They are trying to provide a plausible cover story for collective punishment,” said Jeremy Konyndyk, president of Refugees International
The war between Israel and Hamas has reversed progress in improving Gaza’s water desalination and wastewater treatment facilities.
, Explosive weapons have generated 39 million tons of debris in the Gaza Strip.
Each square metre of the Gaza Strip is now littered with over 107 kilograms (236 lbs) of debris.
All environmental systems, including basic sanitation, are now defunct in Gaza.
Israel has destroyed a large proportion of Gaza’s solar infrastructure and broken panels can leak contaminants into the soil.
Accuracy
Explosive weapons have generated 39 million tons of debris in the Gaza Strip.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an appeal to authority and uses inflammatory rhetoric. They also present a dichotomous depiction of the situation.
Explosive weapons have generated some 39 million tons of debris... More than five times the debris generated during the battle for Mosul, Iraq, in 2017.
All of this is deeply harming people's health, food security and Gaza's resilience.
Israel's long-term occupation had already posed major environmental challenges in the Palestinian territories with regards to water quality and availability.
