Gaza's undocumented dangers

Asbestos was used in Palestine, particularly during the 20th century, and especially in areas that later became known as the State of Israel.

Here’s an historical breakdown;

Asbestos During the British Mandate Period (1920–1948)

During the period of the Mandatory Palestine, asbestos was widely used in construction, as it was globally at the time.

Common uses included:

Roofing sheets (corrugated asbestos-cement panels)

Water tanks

Pipes and insulation

Industrial fireproofing

Military structures built during WWII

Asbestos was popular because it was:

Cheap

Fire-resistant

Durable in hot climates

Industrial Use in Israel (Post-1948)

After 1948, asbestos use expanded significantly in Israel. One of the most notable sites was:

Eternit

• Operated a large asbestos-cement factory in Nahariya.

• Produced roofing sheets, pipes, and building materials.

• Operated from the 1950s until the 1990s.

Waste materials were reportedly used in nearby construction and landscaping, leading to widespread environmental contamination. 

The surrounding area later became the site of one of Israel’s largest environmental asbestos cleanup projects.

Asbestos was heavily used in:

Public housing

Agricultural buildings

Schools

Military facilities

Use in the West Bank and Gaza

Asbestos-cement roofing sheets were (and in some cases still are) common.

Imported asbestos products were used in homes, workshops, and industrial buildings.

Due to economic constraints, older asbestos materials often remain in place.

Because asbestos is hazardous primarily when fibers become airborne (for example, during demolition or damage), aging infrastructure poses an ongoing risk if disturbed.

Regulation and Ban

Israel passed the Asbestos Abatement and Prevention Law in 2011, banning new asbestos use and mandating removal of friable (easily crumbled) asbestos.

Palestinian territories do not have the same level of regulatory enforcement or removal programs, and asbestos-containing materials remain in many areas.

Health Impact

Regions with heavy industrial asbestos use (such as Nahariya) have documented elevated rates of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. These asbestos-related diseases have long latency periods (20–40+ years), cases can still emerge decades after exposure.

Large areas of Western Galilee required complete soil removal and remediation.

The government has described it as one of Israel’s largest environmental health remediation efforts.

Mesothelioma cases rose decades after peak asbestos use (reflecting 20–40+ year latency).

In fact, Israel’s population-wide mesothelioma rate has been comparable to other developed countries with heavy mid-20th-century asbestos use.

West Bank & Gaza: Ongoing Concerns

Asbestos was a common building material and asbestos-cement roofing sheets were widely used in:

Homes

Workshops

Agricultural buildings

Schools

Much of this material was imported and remains in place. Unlike friable asbestos insulation, asbestos-cement is less dangerous when intact — but becomes hazardous if broken, cut, or pulverized.

⚠️ Conflict-Related Risk

In areas experiencing repeated structural damage (e.g., during armed conflict), asbestos-containing roofing and debris can fracture and release fibers into the air.

Challenges include:

Limited hazardous waste disposal infrastructure

Inconsistent regulatory enforcement

Resource constraints for safe removal

Lack of large-scale epidemiological tracking

There is no comprehensive public registry for asbestos-related disease in the Palestinian territories comparable to Israel’s surveillance systems.

Health Impact in the Region

Across both populations, the main asbestos-related diseases include:

Mesothelioma (pleural and peritoneal)

Lung cancer

Asbestosis

Pleural plaques and thickening

Because of long latency periods, new cases may continue to emerge for decades even though industrial asbestos use has largely ceased. 

Especially so after such recent conflict.