Press TV - Israeli planes have sprayed toxic chemical substances and dangerous herbicideson farmlands across the besieged Gaza Strip as the Tel Aviv regimecontinues its acts of aggression against the impoverished Palestinian enclave.
Nizar al-Wahedi of the Palestinian Agriculture Ministrysaid that the herbicides were used along the border between the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories on Sunday.
He said the Palestinian ministry was not aware of the composition of the Israeli chemicals being sprayed on Palestinian farmlands.
Israel has no right to spray herbicides on Palestinian lands, Wahedi said.
Palestinian farmers say Israeli troops spray weed killers to dry wild plants around security fences in order to have clear vision to watch the area, but they usually spray dozens of meters around their targeted areas, killing and damaging Palestinian crops.
The continuing Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip is putting the lives of people at risk, taking a heavy toll on the enclave'sagriculture sector.
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In this file picture, Palestinians harvest strawberries in a field in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip.[/caption]Farmers are struggling to meet growing demands of 1.8 million Gazanswho are living in the tight grip of theIsraeli siege. They face many challenges due to shortages in farming equipment and more importantly, approved pesticides.
Due to thedecline in production andIsrael's ban on the entry of basic commodities, Gazan farmers have resorted to the use of banned chemical substances to maximize crop yield. This poses a serious health hazard to both farmers and their consumers.
The United Nations has frequently expressed concerns over the excessive use of toxic pesticides by Gazafarmers.
Many medical experts in Gaza are worried abouta risein the number of registered Gazancancer patients, especially in the agricultural areas.
They warn that children are more susceptible todiseases such as leukemia than adults in such regions.
Gaza Strip has been under Israels blockade since June 2007. The crippling siegehas caused a decline in livingstandards as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty.
Israel launchedits latest war on the Gaza Strip in early July 2014. Nearly 2,200 Palestinians, including 577 children, were killed in Israels 50-day onslaught. Over 11,100 others including 3,374 children, 2,088 women and 410 elderly people were also injured.
