加沙战争将城市建筑转化为约6000万吨废墟，释放了包含石棉、铅、二恶英和其他有毒合成物质的污染性尘埃[1]。本·古里安大学环保教授雅阿科夫·加布通过卫星影像对比和现场数据，绘制了加沙主要污染源地图，确认了贾巴利亚难民营和瑞典村两处关键污染热点[1]。其中，瑞典村原本每平方码含近1磅石棉屋顶材料，如今已破碎融入土堤[1]。调查还发现了数千吨被摧毁的铅酸电池仓库和长超半英里的疑似烃类污染黑纹[1]。一名从加沙返回的人道救援工作者衣物中检出36ppm铅含量，表明污染已遍布整个地区[1]。
加布教授在西岸的研究显示，电子垃圾焚烧地区儿童淋巴瘤发病率是其他地区的四倍[1]。未来数十年内，由此污染引发的癌症、肺病和脑损伤死亡人数可能超过战争本身的伤亡[1]。然而，科学调查面临重重障碍：以色列政府禁止任何土壤或沙土样本离开加沙[1]；虽然美国国际开发署在2024年12月批准了加布的环境评估项目资金，但2025年1月特朗普政府暂停了所有机构项目，导致资金被冻结[1]。此外，库什纳在达沃斯论坛提议将加沙海岸改建为高级海滨别墅和替代安全社区[1]，而部分严重污染地点恰好位于这些计划区域内[1]。2025年5月底，瑞典村进行了大规模土地平整工程，可能为新军事基地奠基[1]。
The conflict in Gaza has left behind a toxic environmental catastrophe that researchers warn could prove deadlier than the war itself. The fighting transformed the territory into approximately 60 million tons of rubble, dispersing dust laden with hazardous substances including asbestos, lead, and dioxins into the environment.[1] Yaakov Garb, an environmental professor at Ben-Gurion University, has used satellite imagery comparisons and field data to map Gaza's major pollution sources, identifying critical asbestos contamination hotspots in Jabalia refugee camp and Swedish Village.[1]
The scope of contamination reflects the scale of destruction inflicted on civilian infrastructure. Swedish Village contained nearly one pound of asbestos roofing material per square yard before being shattered and incorporated into protective earth berms, while thousands of tons of destroyed lead-acid battery warehouses have been discovered throughout Gaza.[1] A humanitarian aid worker returning from Gaza tested positive for 36 parts per million of lead in their clothing, indicating pollution penetration across the entire territory.[1] Research by Garb in the West Bank reveals that childhood lymphoma rates in electronic waste incineration areas are four times higher than in other regions, suggesting the scale of future health impacts Gaza may face.[1] Deaths from cancer, lung disease, and brain damage caused by this pollution may exceed war casualties over the coming decades.[1]
Scientific assessment of the contamination has been severely hampered by political and governmental barriers. The Israeli government has prohibited any soil or sand samples from leaving Gaza, preventing independent scientific testing.[1] Although the U.S. Agency for International Development approved funding for Garb's environmental assessment project in December 2024, the Trump administration froze the funds in January 2025.[1] Meanwhile, proposals to redevelop Gaza's coast into luxury beachfront properties and alternative communities, discussed at the Davos forum, overlap with some of the identified contamination zones.[1] In May 2025, a major land-leveling operation occurred in Swedish Village, potentially laying groundwork for a new military installation.[1]