Beit Lahia - a northern town in the Gaza Strip - is renowned for their local strawberry produce, which is referred to as “red gold”. However, since the genocide began, the northern strawberry fields have gone barren.

“Nearly 80% of Beit Lahia’s lands were planted with strawberries. One farm alone employed 16 workers, each supporting a family. It was excellent,” said Saqer Al-Rahel, a Palestinian farmer. “We’ve faced difficult seasons before, but nothing like this. We will not be able to return to how things were.”

Since Israeli armies’ claim of the land; which they now control more than 50% of post-ceasefire - more and more of the strawberry fields are being claimed, making it impossible for the locals to access and nurture them. Additionally, almost 87% of the Gaza Strip’s agricultural zones have thus far been damaged.

“All the strawberry fields are within the yellow line,” said Al-Rahel. “They need wide spaces and constant care, which makes growing them in densely populated areas impossible.”

As of right now, over 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war’s inception, and more than 171,000 injured in brutal Israeli attacks.

Darul Ihsan Media Desk