Israel sprays crop-killing pesticides on Gaza
Submitted by Ma'an News Agency on Mon, 12/28/2015 - 19:43
Israeli planes reportedly sprayed agricultural lands along the Gaza border on Dec. 23 with pesticides that have been killing off crops for the third day in a row, the general manager of the plant protection department at the Gaza-based Ministry of Agriculture told Ma'an News Agency. Wael Thabet said that "several farmers informed the ministry that Israeli planes sprayed their lands with pesticides around the al-Qarrara area in eastern Khan Younis and the Wadi al-Salqa area in east central Gaza which damaged a large number of crops." Saleh al-Najjar, a farmer from al-Qarrara, said he lost some 30 dunums (7.4 acres) of spinach and pea crops due to the spraying. Another farmer, Wael al-Shami, said he lost crops of parsley and beans which were planted near al-Qarrara in eastern Khan Younis.
Thabet alleged that Israeli forces deliberately spray pesticides periodically on agricultural lands near the Gaza-Israeli border to destroy crops. He added that the Red Cross made a trip to observe the damaged area and estimated that 1500 dunams (371 acres) of land in central Gaza and 200 dunams (50 acres) of land in eastern Khan Younis were damaged according to initial reports. Thabet demanded that the Red Cross contact Israel and call for it to stop its violations against farmers in Gaza.
From Ma'an News Agency, Dec. 23
IDF admits spraying herbicides inside Gaza Strip
The Israel army has confirmed that it used crop-dusters to kill off vegetation — and perhaps inadvertently, agricultural crops — inside the Gaza Strip last week. According to Palestinian officials, over 420 acres of land were damaged by the spraying. "The aerial spraying of herbicides and germination inhibitors was conducted in the area along the border fence last week in order to enable optimal and continuous security operations," an IDF Spokesperson told +972 on Dec. 27.
More air-strikes on Gaza
The Israeli air force early Jan. 2 morning launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip targeting Hamas facilities after rockets were fired from the besieged enclave. Official sources in Gaza said that Israeli warplanes targeted training grounds used by the military wing of Hamas, the al-Qassam Brigades. One airstrike hit the al-Yarmouk training site in western Gaza City and another landed in the Falastin training site east of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. Another strike targeted an open area near what was once the Gaza International Airport east of Rafah city in southern Gaza, and a fourth hit an open area in the central Gaza Strip. No casualties have been reported though the strikes reportedly left noticeable material damages. (Ma’an)