Gaza olive press in operation despite massive loss of olive trees during war

The olive oil industry in Gaza has suffered devastating losses as the ongoing Hamas-Israel war leaves vast areas of farmland and infrastructure in ruins. Many of the territory’s olive presses have been damaged or destroyed, halting a key source of livelihood for local farmers and business owners.

In Al-Zawaida and surrounding areas, producers report that nearly 90 percent of olive trees have been lost, erasing generations of agricultural heritage. The destruction has crippled Gaza’s olive oil production, with up to 85 percent of presses no longer operational.

Before the conflict, Gaza exported olive oil to Saudi Arabia, Gulf states, and was preparing to enter the European market. Now, with irrigation systems destroyed and fuel costs soaring, few farmers can afford to operate or maintain the remaining presses. The collapse of this once-thriving sector has left many residents without income, marking one of the most severe blows to Gaza’s agricultural economy in recent years.