How the war has turned the Gaza Strip back into a desert

Story lead and maps for a visual story about a farmer from Khan Yunis

How has the Israel-Hamas war impacted agriculture in the Gaza Strip? Saied Hijazi, a farmer from the southern coastal area, takes the reader on a tour of his farm. Israeli tanks and bulldozers have devastated fields, explosions have shredded greenhouses, plants have withered, and farm animals have died. Amidst this destruction, and despite the ongoing war, Hijazi has already begun rebuilding.

Combining on-the-ground reporting and satellite data, this story highlights the destruction of farmland, greenhouses, and agricultural infrastructure. It also examines the broader implications for food security and the uncertain future of agriculture in the region.

Storytelling concept: Photography for a personal story, maps for the larger picture
Publication: Online in English and German
Publication: Large print spread

Context

Visual Journalist, Neue Zürcher Zeitung

Time Frame

June 2024 – August 2024

Publication Date

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Collaborators

  • Jonas Roth – text
  • Enas Tantesh – photography
  • Malak Tantesh – interviews
  • Amjed Tantesh – organization
  • Gilles Steinmann – photo editing

Responsibilities

  • Project lead
  • Visual storytelling concept
  • Coordination of journalists in the Gaza Strip
  • Data research
  • Maps