Latest news with #UNSatelliteCentre
Business Recorder
26-05-2025
- General
- Business Recorder
Less than 5% of Gaza's cropland is useable, UN assessment shows
GENEVA: Less than 5% of Gaza's cropland can be cultivated due to damage and access restrictions, 'exacerbating the risk of famine in the area', according to a UN assessment published on Monday. 'This level of destruction is not just a loss of infrastructure – it is a collapse of Gaza's agrifood system and of lifelines,' said Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization which produced the assessment alongside the UN Satellite Centre. Before the Israel-Hamas war began over 19 months ago, Gazan farmers cultivated a range of crops including citrus fruits, dates and olives, despite the area being among the most densely populated in the world. Now, half a million people face starvation, according to a global hunger monitor, amid Israeli restrictions on food imports after an 11-week blockade. In total, just 688 hectares, or 4.6% of the total, is available for cultivation, the UN assessment said. Gaza rescuers say 52 killed in Israeli strikes, including 33 in a school It showed that more than 80% of Gaza's cropland had been damaged in the war. A total of 77.8% is not accessible, the statement said, based on a UN assessment of Israeli restricted sites and evacuation orders. The report found that nearly three-quarters of greenhouses had been damaged in the war and over 80% of wells, according to the assessment based on high-resolution satellite imagery. It described the situation as 'particularly critical' in the southern area of Rafah and in the northern areas where nearly all cropland is inaccessible, the statement said.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel ‘seizing city of Rafah' in new Gaza offensive
The Israeli military is seizing the city of Rafah as part of a new offensive aimed at expanding the buffer zone along the Gaza border, it has been reported. If confirmed, it would mark the first time the IDF has taken a major city within its defensive perimeter, essentially creating an Israeli military enclave 3 miles (4.8km) deep into the operation follows heavy aerial bombardments and repeated warnings to civilians to evacuate, although relatively few incidents of fighting on the media has reported that defence officials were considering whether to fully demolish all buildings in the southern sector, where Rafah is have done this in other parts of the buffer zone. A report by the UN Satellite Centre last April estimated that 90 per cent of the buildings within the fortified area had been destroyed or damaged. However, this would be the first time an entire Palestinian city would be effectively erased. The Israeli government says its renewed Gaza operation is intended to place Hamas under maximum pressure in order to secure the release of the remaining hostages, 34 of whom are thought to be Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has previously warned that Israel would seize tracts of territory in Gaza if the terror group failed to release the captives. Meanwhile, Israel Katz, the defence minister, said on Wednesday the IDF's 'great achievements' during the renewed fighting were bringing Hamas closer to another deal. However, groups supporting hostage families have expressed extreme distress at the resumption of is located between the border with Egypt, which was previously controlled by Israel via a narrow strip of land called the Philadelphi Corridor, and a newly created east-west 'Morag Corridor', just south of the city of Khan 200,000 Palestinians lived there before the the city and its surrounding neighbourhoods into a no-go buffer zone would essentially decrease the size of the Strip available to civilians by 20 per follows significant increases in the depth of the buffer zone around much of the enclave, from a distance of approximately 800 metres before Oct 7 2023 to 1 mile (1.5km). Israel says this is to protect its troops and Israeli civilians living nearby from a repeat Wednesday, Haaretz reported an anonymous defence official as saying it was yet to be decided whether the entire area would be fully cleared of all IDF is reportedly taking a 'low-risk' approach as it advances into neighbourhoods potentially controlled by Hamas, preferring to demolish buildings rather than send in troops and risk booby hundreds of air strikes, which Israel says has killed more than 40 Hamas officials and mid-level commanders, there have been only sparse reports of fighting on the strategists reportedly believe that Hamas still has 20,000 militants in the Strip – about half the number before the war – but most are choosing not to fight, potentially ahead of a large future battle. The IDF has not said whether Rafah will be incorporated into a buffer zone or whether its buildings will be demolished.A spokesman said: 'As part of implementing the defence strategy and in accordance with the directives of the political echelon, the IDF is destroying terrorist infrastructure, strengthening defence components in communities, maintaining a broad military presence in the security zone adjacent to Israel, and working to remove threats in the area.'These actions are essential in order to prevent Hamas and other terrorist organisations from operating in the area while ensuring the security of IDF forces and Israeli communities.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Israel ‘seizing city of Rafah' in new Gaza offensive
The Israeli military is seizing the city of Rafah as part of a new offensive aimed at expanding the buffer zone along the Gaza border, it has been reported. If confirmed, it would mark the first time the IDF has taken a major city within its defensive perimeter, essentially creating an Israeli military enclave 3 miles (4.8km) deep into the Strip. The operation follows heavy aerial bombardments and repeated warnings to civilians to evacuate, although relatively few incidents of fighting on the ground. Israeli media has reported that defence officials were considering whether to fully demolish all buildings in the southern sector, where Rafah is located. They have done this in other parts of the buffer zone. A report by the UN Satellite Centre last April estimated that 90 per cent of the buildings within the fortified area had been destroyed or damaged. However, this would be the first time an entire Palestinian city would be effectively erased. The Israeli government says its renewed Gaza operation is intended to place Hamas under maximum pressure in order to secure the release of the remaining hostages, 34 of whom are thought to be alive. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has previously warned that Israel would seize tracts of territory in Gaza if the terror group failed to release the captives. Meanwhile, Israel Katz, the defence minister, said on Wednesday the IDF's 'great achievements' during the renewed fighting were bringing Hamas closer to another deal. However, groups supporting hostage families have expressed extreme distress at the resumption of hostilities. Rafah is located between the border with Egypt, which was previously controlled by Israel via a narrow strip of land called the Philadelphi Corridor, and a newly created east-west 'Morag Corridor', just south of the city of Khan Younis. Around 200,000 Palestinians lived there before the war. Incorporating the city and its surrounding neighbourhoods into a no-go buffer zone would essentially decrease the size of the Strip available to civilians by 20 per cent. It follows significant increases in the depth of the buffer zone around much of the enclave, from a distance of approximately 800 metres before Oct 7 2023 to 1 mile (1.5km). Israel says this is to protect its troops and Israeli civilians living nearby from a repeat attack. On Wednesday, Haaretz reported an anonymous defence official as saying it was yet to be decided whether the entire area would be fully cleared of all buildings. The IDF is reportedly taking a 'low-risk' approach as it advances into neighbourhoods potentially controlled by Hamas, preferring to demolish buildings rather than send in troops and risk booby traps. Despite hundreds of air strikes, which Israel says has killed more than 40 Hamas officials and mid-level commanders, there have been only sparse reports of fighting on the ground. IDF strategists reportedly believe that Hamas still has 20,000 militants in the Strip – about half the number before the war – but most are choosing not to fight, potentially ahead of a large future battle. The IDF has not said whether Rafah will be incorporated into a buffer zone or whether its buildings will be demolished. A spokesman said: 'As part of implementing the defence strategy and in accordance with the directives of the political echelon, the IDF is destroying terrorist infrastructure, strengthening defence components in communities, maintaining a broad military presence in the security zone adjacent to Israel, and working to remove threats in the area. 'These actions are essential in order to prevent Hamas and other terrorist organisations from operating in the area while ensuring the security of IDF forces and Israeli communities.'
