Gaza’s honey industry, once a thriving source of income and food security for hundreds of families, has been pushed to the brink of extinction. Before October 2023, about 905 registered beekeepers in the coastal enclave operated roughly 30,000 beehives, producing 380–400 tons of honey annually. Today, production has plummeted to just 20 tons, a decline of more than 90 percent, while economic losses in the sector have reached an estimated $39 million. This collapse is not merely an agricultural tragedy; it is a stark illustration of how war devastates livelihoods, food systems, and cultural heritage.
The Scale of Destruction
The devastation of Gaza’s beekeeping sector is extensive and multifaceted. Israeli military operations have
”obliterated nearly 30,000 beehives that previously supplied the local market with 380 to 400 tons of honey annually,”
according to reports from the Cooperative Society of Beekeepers in Gaza. Beyond the immediate destruction of hives, the conflict has ravaged more than 85 percent of vegetation and forest grazing areas essential for bee colonies, leaving over 6,000 laborers without employment and devastating the incomes of all registered beekeepers across the territory.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s beekeeping department has echoed these figures, with officials stating that
”The honey production sector has suffered losses exceeding 90 percent.”
They further emphasized that
”What happened to Gaza’s apiaries is not only an environmental disaster, it is a violation of international humanitarian law and a threat to food security.”
These statements underscore the gravity of the situation, framing the destruction not only as an economic loss but also as a breach of international norms governing the protection of civilian infrastructure and food sources during conflict.
Human Stories Behind the Statistics
The human cost of this collapse is vividly illustrated by the experiences of individual beekeepers. Hussam Erhaim, a 42-year-old beekeeper and sole provider for a family of six children in Gaza City’s Al-Zeitoun neighborhood, restarted his business with just 10 hives after Israeli forces destroyed his apiary. He has since expanded to 20 hives, but production remains extremely limited.
”Under normal conditions, twenty hives would produce about 100 kilograms of honey,”
Erhaim said.
”This season, however, we harvested only around 10 kilograms because the bees can no longer find enough flowers to feed on after agricultural lands across Gaza were destroyed and bulldozed by Israeli occupation.”
Erhaim’s experience reflects a broader pattern. Officials from the Co-operative Beekeepers Association warned that even if hostilities ended immediately, ecosystem recovery would take years, with many apiaries lying behind the “Yellow Line” in areas under Israeli military control and thus inaccessible for rehabilitation. The Cooperative Society of Beekeepers also highlighted that
”The beekeeper who used to own 300, 400 or even 500 hives now has only 10 or 20 and is trying to start again with the fewest resources and highest costs.”
This points to the severe shortage of wood and boxes needed for reconstruction—materials that some desperate residents burned for heat during fuel shortages and famine conditions.
Economic and Social Implications
The collapse of Gaza’s honey industry has profound economic and social implications. Honey has long been a traditional food and natural remedy in Gaza, and its scarcity and soaring price reduce access for households already facing severe economic hardship. Before the war, honey sold for approximately 70 shekels per kilogram; today, it fetches 280–300 shekels per kilogram, making it unaffordable for many families. The price of inputs has also skyrocketed: wax sheets have risen from around 30 shekels pre-war to 1,200–1,500 shekels per box, while hive boxes have jumped from 300 shekels to roughly 7,500 shekels due to scarcity and import constraints.
These economic pressures have left over 6,000 workers in the sector jobless and have devastated the incomes of all 905 registered beekeepers. The Cooperative Society of Beekeepers reported that the sector has suffered $39 million in losses since October 2023, a figure that encompasses not only the destruction of hives but also the loss of grazing areas, supply chains, and market access. The Ministry of Agriculture has described the situation as a
”violation of international humanitarian law and a threat to food security,”
highlighting the broader implications for Gaza’s population.
Environmental and Legal Dimensions
The destruction of Gaza’s beekeeping sector also has significant environmental and legal dimensions. The loss of more than 85 percent of vegetation and the decimation of hives signal broader ecological breakdown, with knock-on effects for pollination and agricultural recovery. Officials have emphasized that
”What happened to Gaza’s apiaries is not only an environmental disaster, it is a violation of international humanitarian law and a threat to food security.”
This statement aligns with international legal frameworks that protect civilian infrastructure and food sources during armed conflict, suggesting that the destruction of Gaza’s honey industry may constitute a war crime under certain interpretations of international law.
The Cooperative Society of Beekeepers and other stakeholders have pointed to the role of Israeli military operations in destroying hives, grazing areas, and supply chains. Anadolu Agency reporting has framed the collapse as a direct consequence of these operations, referring to the broader context as ”Israel’s genocide” in line with Palestinian and some international civil society characterizations. While such terminology is contested in international legal and diplomatic circles, it reflects the depth of anger and despair among Gaza’s beekeepers and their supporters.
United Nations Analysis and Broader Context
The collapse of Gaza’s honey industry is part of a broader pattern of agricultural destruction documented by the United Nations. A joint assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) revealed that less than five percent of the Gaza Strip’s cropland area remains available for cultivation, with more than 80 percent of cropland damaged and 77.8 percent inaccessible to farmers. The report warned that
”This level of destruction is not just a loss of infrastructure – it is a collapse of Gaza’s agrifood system and of lifelines.”
The FAO estimated that the total value of damages and losses experienced by the agricultural sector in Gaza since hostilities began in 2023 was over $2 billion, with recovery and reconstruction needs estimated at about $4.2 billion. The analysis further highlighted that 98.5 percent of cropland in the Gaza Strip is either damaged, inaccessible, or both, leaving just 1.5 percent of cropland currently available for cultivation. This catastrophic decline in agricultural capacity has contributed to famine-like conditions across the territory, with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis warning that the entire population of the Gaza Strip—approximately 2.1 million people—is facing a critical risk of famine.
The Path Forward
Rebuilding Gaza’s honey industry will require more than just replacing destroyed hives; it will necessitate the restoration of grazing areas, supply chains, and market access. However, the Cooperative Society of Beekeepers has warned that even if hostilities ended immediately, ecosystem recovery would take years, with many apiaries lying behind the “Yellow Line” in areas under Israeli military control and thus inaccessible for rehabilitation. The Ministry of Agriculture has called for international support to address the ”environmental disaster” and ”threat to food security” posed by the collapse of the honey sector.
In the absence of a comprehensive reconstruction plan, Gaza’s beekeepers face an uncertain future. Hussam Erhaim and others like him are left to rebuild with minimal resources and soaring costs, their livelihoods hanging in the balance. As officials from the Co-operative Beekeepers Association noted, the road to recovery will be long and arduous, with many apiaries remaining inaccessible for the foreseeable future.
The collapse of Gaza’s honey industry from 400 tons to 20 tons is a microcosm of the broader humanitarian and economic crisis in the enclave. It highlights the devastating impact of war on civilian livelihoods, food systems, and cultural heritage. As stakeholders call for international support and accountability, the story of Gaza’s beekeepers serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict and the urgent need for sustainable solutions to rebuild shattered communities.
