Gaza: Only 3 percent of the Gaza Strip's cropland remains both accessible and undamaged, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT).
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, a new geospatial assessment as of 24 June 2026 revealed that 4,091 hectares, or 27 percent of the Gaza Strip's cropland, remained accessible. However, only 448 hectares were both accessible and undamaged. The remaining 3,643 accessible hectares were damaged and would require rehabilitation before cultivation could resume. Since October 2025, accessible and undamaged cropland has decreased from 601 hectares to 448 hectares, marking a loss of 153 hectares, or 25.5 percent, with Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis experiencing the largest reductions.
The assessment highlighted that the decline in accessible cropland reflects reduced access to farmland since the October 2025 ceasefire, primarily due to the westward expansion of the 'Yellow Line' separating the ceasefire zone from the military-controlled area.
Additionally, the availability of greenhouses has declined compared to the October 2025 assessment. Only 224 hectares, or 16.6 percent of greenhouse area, remain accessible and undamaged, a decrease from 226 hectares, or 17.3 percent, in October 2025. Deir al-Balah saw the largest decrease in this area.
The findings indicate that reduced access, rather than additional physical damage, has been the main driver behind the declining availability of agricultural land since October 2025. Rafah is reported to have the highest levels of inaccessibility, with 97.2 percent of cropland and 98.4 percent of greenhouse area inaccessible. The most extensive physical damage is concentrated in North Gaza and Gaza governorates.
Rein Paulsen, Director of FAO's Office of Emergencies and Resilience, stated, "This latest assessment paints a stark picture of the continued deterioration of Gaza's agriculture sector. The loss of access to farmland is further shrinking the space available for farmers to produce food, even where agricultural assets remain physically intact. Farmers in Gaza have shown time and again that when land and inputs are available, production is possible. But 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 and UNOSAT reported that restrictions on the import and distribution of essential agricultural inputs are also hampering recovery efforts. Farmers face critical shortages of seeds, fertilizers, irrigation equipment, fuel, and other production materials due to limited land access.
Livestock keepers are also struggling to obtain feed, veterinary supplies, and animal health services. FAO's ability to import feed and other materials needed to protect and restock herds remains inconsistent. The limited agricultural inputs available in Gaza are often of declining quality and priced beyond the reach of farming households.
Before the escalation of Israel's aggression on the Strip in October 2023, FAO and UNOSAT noted that agriculture accounted for about 10 percent of Gaza's economy, supporting the livelihoods of more than 560,000 people through crop production, livestock rearing, and fishing.
FAO called for urgent and sustained action to restore agricultural production in Gaza by 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.
The assessment concluded with a call for "Safe and unimpeded access to farmland, reliable access to production inputs, and sustained investment are essential to rebuild Gaza's agrifood system, strengthen local food production, and restore agricultural livelihoods."