The Future of Gaza will be set up by Ecology (Energy and Water) Rather than Military Operations
Dursun YILDIZ
Expert on Hydro-Politics
The Gaza Strip has become an operation site of Israel with continuous disproportionate force. While such inhuman attacks result in several civilian casualties in on hand, they destroy the infrastructure of the region and make the lives difficult. In brief, they inflict a heavy blow on the future of Palestine.
Political future of Gaza Strip, once came into agenda with Israeli military operations, is directly related to energy, water and environmental safety. About 80% of water resources of the region and natural gas drills of Gaza Strip are under the control of Israel and such a case indicate that energy and water will not come to the region without the peace.
Continuous violence and conflict atmosphere and political rhetoric of Israel – Palestine dispute are masking the issues related to energy, water and natural environment with are significant issues to create a political future. As it was today, initially the peace should be established in the region and the bloodshed should be limited urgently. However, until the next operation of Israel, energy, water and ecological destructions in Gaza Strip will continue in an ever-increasing fashion. Such a case will affect the future of that geography as much as military operations. It will actually postpone the political future to be planned.
Full destruction of ecological balance of the region, which will further increase the water and energy shortages, will be more effective in prevention of economic and social development of Palestine than the military invasions and missile strikes.
Much was not changed in Gaza Strip since Israel withdraws military personal and Jewish settlers in August of 2005. The region is often under intensive Israeli military operations and embargo and under the pressure of water and energy shortage and deficit…
Gaza Strip of Palestine is the most characteristic region of the world with regard to armed conflicts, population intensity and water shortage. Now, the region is again under heavy military attacks of Israel.
Gaza Strip extends as 41 km long and 7-9 km wide strip along the Eastern Mediterranean and covers an area of 367 square kilometers. It is located within Middle East geography with severe water shortages.(1) Gaza is a region experiencing water-related problems in the most severe fashions because of limited water resources, rapid pollution, rapid increases in population, heavy population intensity, embargos and military attacks.
Such a shortage is not moving toward a crises level and masked by continuous conflicts and political rhetoric.
Population and Water Resources
The population of Gaza Strip was 80 000 in 1948 and the regions had migrations because of conflicts created by Israelis and the population increased to 200 000. Further migrations and rapid population increase rates have made the region as a place with the most intensive population density of the world.(2)
Today, about 1,5 million are living in Gaza and almost 50% of this population is under the age of 14. Population increase rate is 3,5 and the region does not have surface water resources available for storage. Annual safe groundwater yield is 65 million cubic meter. After Israeli invasion of Gaza Strip in 1967, Israeli governments did not make any water management plans to preserve water resources. The number well was 1200 in 1967 and the number reached to 2100 in 1993. Any measures were not also taken to prevent such an increase in number wells.(3)
During that period, annually 110 million cubic meter water were withdrawn and groundwaters table dropped below the sea level. Such a case resulted in sea water intrusion into groundwaters in various parts of region.(4)
When the management of water resources of the region was passed to Palestine Water Institute with an agreement signed in 1994, it was notices that groundwater was the only water resource of the region and it was polluted by sea water intrusion and nitrate (5) and will become useless by the year 2000 if the relevant measures are not taken.(6)
The conflicts in the region has died out the water delivery project from West Bank to Gaza and ultimately the number of well opened has reached to 4000.
Israel cut down the half of water declared to be provided to Palestine between the years 1998-2004. Such a case also increased groundwaters withdraws and groundwater quality severely decreased then.
By the way, the construction of sea water treatment facility, designed together with USAID (The United States International Development) in the year 2003 and with an annual treatment capacity of 22 million cubic meters, has stopped because of killing a worker during the revolt period.
Today, only 10% of withdrawn ground water complies with the drinking water standards of World Health Organization.(7)
Israeli Embargo
The primary water resource of the region is groundwaters. However, Israel allows the Palestinians the use only one-fifth of the available secure groundwaters resources of the region.(8). Beside the natural water scarcity, such a limitation deepens the water crises experienced within the region.
Just because of Israeli embargos on petrol, energy and chlorine, pumping were stopped in 52 of 140 drinking water wells around the middle of 2007.(9). During that period, the water resources dangerous for human health even after boiling had to be used.(10).
It was also experienced that Israel was providing less water for emergency drinking and utilization water (annually 28.6 million cubic meter) than the amount specified in Oslo B Agreement signed between Israel and Palestine Autonomous Administration in 1995 (11). Environmental health is also under threat in Gaza.
Amani and Sami carried out a study in 2005 (12) and indicated that 3 wastewater treatment systems located in Beit Lahia, Gaza and Refah regions of Gaza Strip were not operating efficiently and 70% of domestic wastewaters were discharged into sea and nature without any treatment. In the study, it was also indicated that a part of 40 million cubic meter domestic wastewater was used in agricultural irrigations again without any treatment. Such waters easily increase the microbial pollution and had significant impacts on increasing water-born diseases in Gaza Strip.
Long-lasting and currency on-going conflicts in the region, together with the above mentioned conditions, clearly showed that Israel will not allocate more water to Palestine from the current or prospective resources to be developed.
“GAZA 2020” Report of UN.
“Gaza will turn into inhabitable place by the year 2020” 29 August 2012
UN indicated that Gaza will turn into an inhabitable place by the year 2020 unless improvements are made in standards of water, electricity and health-like basic services.
UN Humanitarian Works Coordinator, Maxwell Gaylard, in a press meeting to express the UN report about Gaza said “ For Gaza to be a habitable place in the year 2020, instant action is required. Besides, even with the instant action, it is highly difficult to reach that target.”
In this report, it was estimated that currently 1,6 million population will increase about 500 thousand in 8 years and 51% of that population will be under the age of 18 and Gaza will have the youngest population of the world.
In this report prepared for Gaza under the blockade of Israel, for the region to be a habitable place it was pointed out that initially urgent measures should be taken in the areas of clean water, electricity, education and health.
We pointed out 5 years ago !
It was clearly evident that Gaza, mentioned in UN report, will become a place in which life is really hard. We have already mentioned the issue in an article entitled as “Water Problem of Gaza in 2009” (1). In this article, water problems of Gaza were evaluated in detail and following determinations were made;
"Israeli authorities prepared a water management plan after their invasion of Gaza Strip in 1967 to preserve the water resources. They haven’t taken any measures to prevent the number of registered wells to increase from 1200 in 1967 to 2100 in 1993.
During this time period, 110 million cubic meter water were withdrawn and groundwaters table decreased below the sea level. Such a case resulted in sea water intrusion into ground water in various parts of the region”. Destruction in ecological balance of Gaza creates larger problems than military operations and such destruction has a potential to sustain itself."
The role of energy and water in political future of Gaza
It is hard to separate the political future of the Gaza from its ecological and energy future. The significance of region even increased with natural gas resources within territorial waters and it is a strategic strip opening to Eastern Mediterranean.
The recent developments experienced in Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East have even more increased the strategic significance of the region.
Permanent solution to water deficit of Gaza Strip is directly related to establishment of political stability and creation of a trust environment. Apart from that, I have already mentioned about the things to be done in my previous articles (1). I will bring a different point forward here. The water and environmental safety experienced for 30 years in Palestine have left within the shadow of military operations but the problem now has already reach to full destruction point of the ecological balance. When the resultant outcomes are considered in different perspectives, they can be considered as systematic blocking efforts for the existence of Palestine and economic developments of Palestinians. Such a process has already taken large steps.
Now, a glimmer of hope was seen for the energy required to stop this process and to revive this piece of earth. When the natural gas reserves setting the agendas of Eastern Mediterranean are mentioned, instantly Cyprus and Israel come into minds. However, within the same geography, no-one mentions about the reserves found in Gaza territorial waters. But, significant natural gas reserves were determined in this region.
Palestinian Authorities signed an agreement in 1999 for 25 years with British Gas (BG) and its partner Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC) owned by Lebanese Sabbah and Kuri Families. Within the scope of this agreement, BG determined 38 billion cubic meter natural gas reserve with a current value of 4 billion dollars in the year 2000 within the territorial waters of Gaza Strip. It was indicated in BG reports that this was the initial determination and Palestine gas reserves might be more than that.
Such a development increased the future hopes of Palestine. However, Israili Chief of Staff Moşe Yalon stated in the year 2007 that “natural gas reserves determined in offshores of Gaza will not provide an economic independence to Palestine. Hamas may use such a source to finance its attack to Israel, therefore Hamas should be eradicated”.
About 60% of natural gas reserves over Gaza-Israel costs belong to Palestine. Gaza territorial waters are adjacent to Israeli gas facilities. When the Gaza territorial waters are put under the sway of Israel, natural gas sites of Gaza will then be included into adjacent Israeli offshore facilities.
These natural gas resources seem to be the last hope for the economy, ecology and political future of Gaza. Therefore, the future of natural gas resources of Gaza is a highly critical issue. Israel said in the year 2007 that “no gas as long as Hamas exists”. Now, the critical questions are: Will a Palestine without Hamas be possible? Will Gaza turn into a desert until this condition of Israel realize? Even everything goes as desired by Israel, will there be a Palestine with shores opening to Eastern Mediterranean and rich in natural gas? Will it be hard for Israel to prevent such outcomes since they are able to create instabilities in the region whenever they want?
The developments about energy and water resources are changing the rules of the game played in Eastern Mediterranean Region, affecting the plans made. These resources have vital significance for Gaza and they are controlled by Israel. Thus, the political future of Gaza is highly related to freedom to be provided over these resources.
Currently, 30% of electricity of Gaza is produced by its own power plants, almost half is bought from Israel and 20% is bought from Egypt. However, there are problems most of the time in supplying 400 tons fuel oil in own power plants. Such a case makes Gaza depended largely to Israel in electricity.
Stopping the blood is the primary issue in the region. However, sustainable energy and water supply and prevention of possible environmental disasters are also vital issues for the sustainability of life and humanity in Gaza Strip. Therefore, there is a need for cheap, secure and continuous energy and water resources.
Current on-going violence in the region prevents the possible sustainable solutions for these problems directly effecting the future of the region.
Prevention of Gaza from accessing sufficient energy and water and environmental destructions have a potential to create greater and continuous problems than the military operations. Actually, periodic military operations destroy current infrastructure and create “ever-weak” region continuously struggling with various problems and ruins the future plans of Palestine.
References 
(1) YILDIZ Dursun Bölgenin Sorunu Yalnızca Barış Değil… Gazze'nin Su Sorunu 5 Ocak 2009 Cumhuriyet Strateji Dergisi
(2) YILDIZ,Dursun 2008“Akdeniz’in Doğusu” Bizim Kitaplar2008 Ankara
(3) Nasser Y (2003) “Palestinian Water Needs and Rights in the Context of Past and Future Development.” In Water in Palestine: Problems - Politics - Prospects. Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs (PASSIA), Jerusalem.
(4)YILDIZ,Dursun 2003 “Akdeniz Havzasında Su Sorunları ve Türkiye” Kitabı TMMOB İMO Ankara Şubesi Yayını.Mart 2003 Ankara.
(5)Fayeq I.El Madhoun 2004 “Drinking Water Quality:Evaluation of Chloride and
Nitrate Concentrations of Wells’ Supplies-Gaza Governorates(1990-2002)-Palestine 2nd Israelı-Palestınıan-International Conference on”Water for Life in the Middle East”10-14 October 2004.Antalya,Turkey I.P.C.R.I
(6)Alice Gray 2007 The Water Crisis in Gaza International Viewpoint IV Online Magazine : IV386 - February 2007 Palestine http://www.internationalviewpoint.org
(7)Alyaqoubi,S.Ahmed 2004 “Domestic Water Demand Management In Terms Of Quality and Quantity In Gaza Strip/Paletsine 2nd Israelı-Palestınıan-International Conference on”Water for Life in the Middle East”10-14 October 2004.Antalya,Turkey I.P.C.R.I
(8) BİLEN,Özden 1996 Ortadoğu Su Sorunları ve Türkiye. TESAV Yayını.Ankara.
(9) Al Mezan, 29 Şubat 2008 İsrail’in Ablukası Gazze’de İçme Suyu Krizi Yaratıyor
[10] WaSH MP (2005) Water for Life: Continued Israeli Assault on Palestinian Water, Sanitation and Hygiene during the Intifada. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Monitoring Project (WaSH MP), Palestinian Hydrology Group (PHG).
(11) Guttman,J.Percia,c.2004 “Educated Water Management Under Hydrological Stres In the West Bank” 2nd Israelı-Palestınıan-International Conference on”Water for Life in the Middle East”10-14 October 2004.Antalya,Turkey I.P.C.R.I
(12)Amani Alfarra ve Sami Lubad 2005 Health Effect Due To Poor Wastewater Treatments In Gaza Strip
(13) Yıldız D. Yaşar D.2013 Doğu Akdeniz'de Küresel Satranç . Truva Yayınları İstanbul
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