Environmental Damages In Armed Conflict: A Case Study Of Gaza Through The Lens Of International Environmental Law
- IJLLR Journal
- Mar 13
- 1 min read
Ajithaa RN, B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), School of Law, M S Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences
ABSTRACT
Environmental damage has increasingly become a critical yet underexamined consequence of contemporary armed conflict. Traditional international humanitarian law primarily focused on regulating the conduct of hostilities and protecting civilians, while the ecological consequences of warfare received comparatively limited attention. However, modern conflicts frequently occur in densely populated regions where environmental systems, infrastructure, and civilian survival mechanisms are closely interconnected. As a result, military operations can cause extensive environmental degradation, including contamination of water sources, destruction of agricultural land and damage to ecosystems essential for public health and food security.
This study examines environmental damage in the Gaza conflict through the framework of international environmental and humanitarian law. It traces the historical evolution of environmental protection in armed conflict and analyses key legal instruments such as the Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which recognize severe environmental destruction as a potential violation of international law. The paper further evaluates the environmental consequences of the Gaza conflict, including damage to water infrastructure, marine ecosystems, and agricultural systems. Through comparative analysis with conflicts such as Vietnam, the Gulf War and Ukraine, the study highlights recurring patterns of wartime environmental destruction and identifies persistent gaps in legal accountability. The research ultimately argues for stronger legal protections and improved accountability mechanisms to address environmental harm in armed conflict.
Keywords: Environmental Damage in Armed Conflict, Gaza Conflict, International Humanitarian Law, Environmental Accountability, Wartime Ecological Protection.
