Settler Colonialism, Ecocide, and the Climate Crisis in Occupied Palestine: Environmental Injustice, Health Inequities, and the Imperative for Public Health Social Work

Environmental devastation in occupied Palestine is a direct outcome of settler colonialism, which systematically dispossesses Indigenous Palestinians of land, resources, and sovereignty. Land confiscation, water diversion, and the deliberate destruction of native species constitute forms of ecocide that exacerbates economic inequality and worsen public health crises, including food and water insecurity, toxic exposure, disease, and prolonged displacement. The climate crisis is further intensified by military activities, including the prolonged bombing of Gaza, which devastate ecosystems, deplete fisheries, erode coastlines and arable land. This paper examines the intersection of settler colonialism, environmental degradation, and health inequities in occupied Palestine, emphasizing how olive grove destruction, land and water contamination, and military violence produce direct social and health harms for an already oppressed population. We call for public health social work to advance environmental justice, health equity, and decolonial practices through advocacy, global solidarity, and centering Indigenous Palestinian voices.