The pursuit of food sovereignty in Palestine is a profound act of agency and a demand for food justice. It is rooted in agroecology and the control of local natural resources to achieve self-sufficiency. Amid severe challenges and ongoing humanitarian crises, Palestinian farmers are reclaiming land and preserving traditional agricultural practices, reaffirming their connection to the land and their right to determine and produce their own food.
The Untold Revolution documents the emergence of an agricultural movement in Palestine focused on achieving food sovereignty, aiming to break free from dependence on imports and global oligopolistic corporations. This movement promotes food production systems that rely on natural resources, local inputs, cooperative values, and agricultural practices tailored to the Palestinian context. Emphasizing self-reliance, it seeks to challenge exploitative systems and strengthen community solidarity, while prioritizing local knowledge and environmentally friendly methods that ensure the land's preservation for future generations.
Agroecology as a Path Forward
Agroecological practices in Palestine have emerged as a crucial approach, promoting sustainability and self-sufficiency. According to Saad Dagher, a Palestinian farmer and prominent advocate of agroecology, these farming practices reclaim control over essential resources such as land, water, and seeds, reducing reliance on imported seeds and chemicals, while ensuring the preservation of natural resources. For example, traditional heirloom seeds, preserved through local seed banks, have gained prominence among farmers seeking ecological and financial self-sufficiency. "Every farmer who shifts to sustainable farming begins to discover new aspects of themselves. That’s why we call sustainable farming the process of 'conscious flow.'" Dagher explains, "We aim to achieve food sovereignty through this method because, ultimately, our goal is to produce food that is free and independent. Food sovereignty means having the right to produce the food you need, rather than simply having the ability to buy it."
Food sovereignty means having the right to produce the food you need, rather than simply having the ability to buy it.
Farmers like Iman Turkman, a farmer from Al-Nasariyah in the central Jordan Valley, shares inspiring stories of transformation. Known as the "Daughter of the Mountain," Turkman left her teaching job to establish an agroecological farm that sustains her family by cultivating 40 crops across 12 dunums (about 1.2 hectares). She founded a cooperative and transitioned from conventional monoculture farming to agroecological farming, free from pesticides and chemical fertilizers that had once burdened her with debt and dependency on corporations. She explained, “Now I have self-sufficiency and, most importantly, freedom. I grow what I want, and no one forces me to use any pesticides. I’ve regained the confidence I had long lost in my journey.”
The Looming Famine amidst Destruction
Since the documentary's release in 2021, the pursuit of food sovereignty in Palestine has grown increasingly vital. The destruction of agricultural infrastructure has dealt a harsh blow to Palestinian farmers, intensifying the urgency of reclaiming control over their land and resources. According to an October 2024 report by OCHA, farmers in the West Bank are being denied access to their agricultural land. Around 150 communities, whose lands are isolated by the Barrier and were previously accessible through 69 agricultural gates regulated by Israeli forces, have been largely prevented from working their lands since October 2023. This has resulted in significant income losses, particularly from olive groves and other seasonal crops. The economic impact on agricultural communities, such as Deir al-Ghusoun, is estimated at $1.4 million annually due to restricted land access. Moreover, the destruction of olive groves, a vital cultural and economic resource, further exacerbates food insecurity and economic hardship. In the 2023 olive harvest season, over 96,000 dunums (9,600 hectares) of olive-cultivated land across the West Bank remained unharvested, as 40% of Palestinian farmers were unable to access their land during the olive season. This resulted in losses amounting to approximately $25 million.
In Gaza, the situation is even more dire. A June 2024 Hunger Hotspots report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) underscores the catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with over 1 million Gazans facing death and starvation due to food aid blockades and systematic attacks on infrastructure. The destruction of cropland, greenhouses, and wells has rendered agriculture unsustainable in many areas. For instance, according to a report published by FAO, by September 2024, 68% of Gaza’s cropland had been damaged, amounting to a loss of 10,183 hectares out of a total of 15,053 hectares.
Launched in March 2024, the initiative engaged 422 farmers across the Gaza Strip, to replant 90.3 hectares with various crops.
This struggle is intensified by Israel’s restrictions on the entry of fruits and vegetables into northern Gazan markets. Despite scarce clean water, contaminated soils, and flattened lands amidst siege and relentless violence, local initiatives like Revive Gaza’s Farmland have emerged as vital lifelines for producing fresh crops. With most civilians reliant on canned food from already limited humanitarian aid, such efforts are indispensable. Launched in March 2024, the initiative engaged 422 farmers across the Gaza Strip, to replant 90.3 hectares with various crops.
These efforts are part of a larger struggle for food sovereignty, as local communities work to reclaim control over their food systems, resist external dependency, and assert their right to produce what they need for survival. Despite overwhelming challenges, farmers like Yousef Abu Rabee, who tragically lost his life in October 2024, embody the strength and determination to reclaim their land, safeguard agricultural resources, and provide fresh produce to the people of northern Gaza.
Because of the siege on northern Gaza, which began in October 2024 and worsened an already dire humanitarian situation, The IPC analysis team warns that famine (IPC Phase 5) is imminent in the northern area of the Gaza Strip (Gaza and North Gaza governorates). The food crisis has worsened dramatically due to stringent restrictions on humanitarian and commercial food supplies. A near-total blockade has left tens of thousands without access to adequate food, nutrition, or health services. The remaining civilians are facing extreme starvation, malnutrition, and elevated mortality risks, with acute food insecurity now reaching catastrophic levels.
As of Sunday, January 19, 2025, the temporary ceasefire took effect. According to the WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip is anticipated to increase significantly, with plans to deliver up to 600 trucks daily, carrying food, tents, medical supplies, and fuel in the coming weeks. However, this is only the beginning of a long road of efforts aimed at addressing the severe humanitarian needs and alleviating the situation, at least temporarily.
Global Call for Action
Abu Rabee’s commitment to replant his land and share resources with fellow farmers embodies the core principles of food sovereignty, emphasizing the importance of local control over food production in the face of systemic food injustice. His words resonate deeply: “We do not wait for aid and humiliation.”
Efforts to achieve food sovereignty must address systemic challenges, ensuring that Palestinian farmers have access to land, water, and markets. A global advocacy for a treaty banning the weaponization of food is vital. Such measures would include accountability, demilitarization of agricultural zones, and support for sustainable food systems. Furthermore, the UN’s 2018 Resolution 2417 condemning the use of hunger as a weapon of war remains crucial in addressing the crisis.
As documented in The Untold Revolution, the determination of Palestinian farmers stands as a testament to the power of grassroots movements in reclaiming rights and dignity. Despite immense adversity, agroecological farming practices and community-driven initiatives demonstrate the potential for sustainable food systems to address critical local challenges such as youth unemployment, declining connection to the land, and food insecurity. The pursuit of food sovereignty in Palestine is not merely about agriculture; it is a profound act of agency and a call for food justice.
Watch the documentary:
Untold Revolution: Food Sovereignty in Palestine الثورة غير المحكية- السيادة الغذائية في فلسطين - Heinrich Boll Foundation - Palestine & Jordan
Watch on YouTube
Untold Revolution: Food Sovereignty in Palestine, 2021, directed by Ameen Nayfeh
This article first appeared here: www.boell.de