Friday, 16 May 2025 {HMC} The military conflict in Gaza has released a toxic substance known as asbestos.
This mineral, which was once widely used in construction materials, releases deadly fibers into the air when disturbed. These fibers can lodge in the lungs and, over decades, cause cancer and other serious illnesses.
Although asbestos is now banned in most parts of the world, it still exists in many old buildings.
In Gaza, asbestos roofing is commonly found in buildings throughout the eight refugee camps located in urban areas. These camps were originally built for Palestinians who fled or were forced out of their homes during the 1948–49 Arab-Israeli war, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In October 2024, UNEP estimated that around 2.3 million tons of rubble was spread across the Gaza Strip, much of which is suspected to contain toxic asbestos materials.
