The Palestinian Environment under Israeli Military Occupation: An International Humanitarian Law Perspective

The Palestinian environment suffers destruction and degradation under the Israeli long-term military occupation. This chapter addresses three main points of discussion. First, it examines the Israeli practices, namely the destruction and exploitation of natural resources, land contamination and mismanagement of waste, as well as their impact on the Palestinian environment in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). Second, the chapter reviews customary and conventional provisions of international humanitarian law that may be applied to protect the environment in the oPt. It also studies related international principles embodied in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development of 1992. Third, the chapter examines Israel’s responsibility under international law and points out possibilities and challenges in relation to the laws protecting the Palestinian environment. The chapter argues that the protection of the Palestinian environment is not sufficient under relevant international provisions. Thus, there is a need for clear and strict regulations to prevent environmental harm.