Hydroponic farm in Gaza has yet to repair damages from Israeli strikes
Israeli airstrikes on Gaza in May destroyed a hydroponic farm established by a young man who had hoped to help the besieged enclave overcome the many crises in its agricultural sector.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — About a year and a half ago, Abdallah Abu Halimeh established a hydroponic farm near the town of Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip.
The farm stretches over an area of 2,000 square meters (21,500 square feet, or half an acre) and includes 41 production units. Abu Halimeh, 34, who holds a degree in geographical information systems, said that before it was destroyed, the operation was a “tourist attraction” because people wanted to see his innovative operation.
But the damaged irrigation system, containers, pumps and lights at the farm have yet to be repaired more than two months after the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
Abu Halimeh, who estimated losses at $120,000 (about half the investment came from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization), said he believes the attack on his project on the last full day of the Israeli-Hamas war was “deliberate.” He told Al-Monitor, “The shells that hit every greenhouse, the control system, the solar energy system and the cooling room at the farm indicate that the occupation deliberately targeted the farm.”
