Sunday, June 29, 2025
4:22 pm (Paris)
Israel is destroying the subsistence of Gaza's population, from agriculture to fishing
In California, protests grow against raids targeting undocumented farmworkers
The US Supreme Court hands Trump a sweeping victory by limiting the power of federal judges
The young women enlisting in Ukraine's army: 'In the army, you have to show you've got balls!'
Europe in an untenable position after US bombings of Iran
EU lawmakers seek to end statute of limitations for child sex abuse cases
Criticism is mounting in the Netherlands against Geert Wilders, who brought down the government
Five years after Brexit, UK and EU aim for a fresh start
A wedding in southern France ends in bloodshed, casting a shadow of drug-related violence
A fake wedding at Disneyland, but a real pedophile fantasy
Medical deserts: France takes new step in 'solidarity mission' to increase doctors in 151 red zones
Le Pen, Bardella and the slow poison of competition
What is France's 'Black code' and why hasn't it been repealed?
How was the European Union created?
Glide bombs: Russia's secret to making cheap weapons
How does the conclave pick the new pope?
'Trump is discovering that a country cannot be run like a business'
Serge Hefez, psychiatrist: 'Our children are too alone in front of screens'
'Iran's nuclear program, along with combative language and calls for Israel's elimination, symbolized resistance to the West'
'Being Jewish in France today means being alone'
Pontus Hultén, the Swede who created Paris's Centre Pompidou
Paris's Iranian diaspora debates war, mullahs and 'what comes next' at city bookshop
Four Syrian weddings, a symbol of reconciliation
Georgian winemakers wish to end dependency on Russian market: 'Otherwise, we risk losing our identity'
Dubuffet, Hokusai, Giacometti: 20 must-see exhibitions this summer, in Paris and beyond
Five cultural outings to enjoy with a baby in Paris
New museum will honor Art Nouveau genius Hector Guimard in Paris
Why Paris's Centre Pompidou, not even 50 years old, must close for five years
More than 95% of farmland has been damaged or lies in areas inaccessible to farmers, as the Palestinian enclave suffers from famine.
5 min read
Subscribers only
At the end of winter, when strawberry season was at its peak in the Gaza Strip, Akram Abou Khoussa and his brothers’ farm was a popular tourist spot. Their one and a half hectares of land in the far northern town of Beit Lahiya had the feel of a rural paradise, far from the dense urban sprawl of Gaza. Before the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, families would come to sip strawberry juice or stroll through the fields. The family grew cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelons, melons and potatoes, but most of their income came from strawberries. Khoussa used to produce about 40 metric tons each year, selling them for up to 30 shekels (about €7.50) per kilo outside the local market at the height of the season. Since 2015, strawberries had been one of the few fruits authorized for export from the Palestinian enclave under strict Israeli blockade. They flooded the stalls of the West Bank – 185 hectares in Gaza were dedicated to their cultivation, mainly in Beit Lahiya.
“We lived very well. We never ran out of strawberries; we even froze some,” said Khoussa, reached by Le Monde by phone from central Gaza, where he was forced to evacuate with his family. Israeli authorities have banned press access to the Gaza Strip for 21 months. “At the start of the war, the farm was destroyed – the fields, my house and my brothers’ houses.” The 58-year-old farmer fled with his family in the days after October 7. His land, less than 2 kilometers from Israeli territory, was especially exposed. Beit Lahiya, a town of just under 100,000 residents, was methodically emptied of its population and largely destroyed by the Israeli army. Satellite images show entire neighborhoods leveled. The green fields on the outskirts of Gaza have disappeared – the entire enclave is gray, the color of ruins.
You have 77.31% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.
Lecture du Monde en cours sur un autre appareil.
Vous pouvez lire Le Monde sur un seul appareil à la fois
Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil.
Parce qu’une autre personne (ou vous) est en train de lire Le Monde avec ce compte sur un autre appareil.
Vous ne pouvez lire Le Monde que sur un seul appareil à la fois (ordinateur, téléphone ou tablette).
Comment ne plus voir ce message ?
En cliquant sur « » et en vous assurant que vous êtes la seule personne à consulter Le Monde avec ce compte.
Que se passera-t-il si vous continuez à lire ici ?
Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil. Ce dernier restera connecté avec ce compte.
Y a-t-il d’autres limites ?
Non. Vous pouvez vous connecter avec votre compte sur autant d’appareils que vous le souhaitez, mais en les utilisant à des moments différents.
Vous ignorez qui est l’autre personne ?
Nous vous conseillons de modifier votre mot de passe.
Lecture restreinte
Votre abonnement n’autorise pas la lecture de cet article
Pour plus d’informations, merci de contacter notre service commercial.
Subscription
Le Monde in English
Follow Le Monde
Israel is destroying the subsistence of Gaza's population, from agriculture to fishing – Le Monde.fr
