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Ecocide Under Occupation and Conflict: The Cases of Palestine and Sudan

Venkatachalapathy, Shravan LU and Simic, Szebasztián LU (2025) VBRM15 20251
Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
Abstract
This thesis investigates ecocide as a form of environmental violence by state and non-state actors, reframing ecological destruction as a political and antagonistic act rather than an accidental byproduct of development. This research emphasises the active participation of state institutions in facilitating and perpetuating large-scale environmental harm while deterring efforts to legally frame ecocide as an international crime. Thereby, accentuating the need to enhance preparedness among vulnerable communities such as Palestine and Sudan through international partnerships and aid. Using a critical qualitative methodology, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, case studies, and literature review. The data was analysed... (More)
This thesis investigates ecocide as a form of environmental violence by state and non-state actors, reframing ecological destruction as a political and antagonistic act rather than an accidental byproduct of development. This research emphasises the active participation of state institutions in facilitating and perpetuating large-scale environmental harm while deterring efforts to legally frame ecocide as an international crime. Thereby, accentuating the need to enhance preparedness among vulnerable communities such as Palestine and Sudan through international partnerships and aid. Using a critical qualitative methodology, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, case studies, and literature review. The data was analysed through a combination of First Cycle Coding methods—Attribute, Descriptive, In Vivo, and Simultaneous Coding—followed by Pattern Coding in the Second Cycle. This approach prioritised participant perspectives and preserved the integrity of information prior to thematic development. Findings reveal that ecocide is deeply intertwined with histories of neocolonialism, the cataclysmic effects of the genocide-ecocide nexus, and systemic political and legal neglect. Participants frequently expressed ecocide in terms of cultural erasure, environmental harm, detrimental effect on human life and community disempowerment. The study concludes that ecocide must be understood as a form of state-sanctioned violence with political, social, and legal implications. It calls for the inclusion of ecocide in international legal frameworks and highlights the importance of bolstering the capacities of vulnerable regions through the core principles of preparedness, funding, and prioritisation of local community needs. (Less)
Popular Abstract
What if the destruction of the environment is not an unintended side-effect of war, but a deliberate act of violence? Our thesis explores ecocide as an intentional tool of oppression and control. Focusing on Palestine and Sudan, we show how this environmental devastation is politically driven, legally under-addressed, and deeply harmful to both nature and people.
Ecocide, or the deliberate destruction of ecosystems, is an overlooked but growing threat in modern conflicts. In our thesis, we investigate how this phenomenon affects two highly vulnerable regions: Palestine and Sudan.
In Palestine, military occupation has led to widespread environmental harm. Water is heavily restricted, millions of trees have been uprooted, and toxic... (More)
What if the destruction of the environment is not an unintended side-effect of war, but a deliberate act of violence? Our thesis explores ecocide as an intentional tool of oppression and control. Focusing on Palestine and Sudan, we show how this environmental devastation is politically driven, legally under-addressed, and deeply harmful to both nature and people.
Ecocide, or the deliberate destruction of ecosystems, is an overlooked but growing threat in modern conflicts. In our thesis, we investigate how this phenomenon affects two highly vulnerable regions: Palestine and Sudan.
In Palestine, military occupation has led to widespread environmental harm. Water is heavily restricted, millions of trees have been uprooted, and toxic chemicals have been sprayed on farmlands. These actions degrade the land, displace people, and damage cultural heritage. In Sudan, a collapsing political system and internal conflict have caused the targeting of essential natural resources like wells and crops, particularly in already vulnerable regions.
To explore these issues, we conducted a critical literature review, built detailed case studies of Palestine and Sudan, and carried out 18 semi-structured interviews with lawyers, scholars, NGO staff, and humanitarian workers. We used qualitative coding techniques to analyse the data and prioritise the perspectives of those closest to the issue.
Despite its scale and impact, ecocide is not recognised as a crime under international law, as existing legal frameworks such as international humanitarian law focus primarily on direct harm to civilians during wartime, leaving environmental destruction in peacetime or under occupation largely unpunished. This legal blind spot severely limits accountability. Worse still, most local, national, and international actors lack the tools, coordination, or legal authority to detect or respond to ecocide. Our research reveals that preparedness is critically underdeveloped. Without planning, equipment, training, or statutory authority, affected communities remain unprotected. Both countries face environmental devastation not as a side-effect of war, but as a calculated method of oppression, displacement, and long-term control.
This research places ecocide within a broader frame of structural violence and environmental justice. It shows that environmental destruction is not just an ecological issue. It is a human rights issue, a legal issue, and a survival issue. As climate change worsens and conflicts spread, ecocide is likely to increase. Recognising it as an international crime and investing in preparedness are not optional, but necessary steps toward a safer and more just future.
Hence, we argue that preparedness must be strengthened at all levels. This means building local capacity for environmental monitoring, involving communities in planning and response, and providing training that includes environmental risks in conflict zones. Statutory authority is critical, as without legal recognition, ecocide continues with impunity. Community-based organisations must be at the centre of this process, supported by sustained funding and political will. (Less)
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author
Venkatachalapathy, Shravan LU and Simic, Szebasztián LU
supervisor
organization
course
VBRM15 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Ecocide, preparedness, monitoring, capacity, colonialism, international law, humanitarian aid
language
English
id
9196599
date added to LUP
2025-06-11 11:07:41
date last changed
2025-06-11 11:07:41
@misc{9196599,
  abstract     = {{This thesis investigates ecocide as a form of environmental violence by state and non-state actors, reframing ecological destruction as a political and antagonistic act rather than an accidental byproduct of development. This research emphasises the active participation of state institutions in facilitating and perpetuating large-scale environmental harm while deterring efforts to legally frame ecocide as an international crime. Thereby, accentuating the need to enhance preparedness among vulnerable communities such as Palestine and Sudan through international partnerships and aid. Using a critical qualitative methodology, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, case studies, and literature review. The data was analysed through a combination of First Cycle Coding methods—Attribute, Descriptive, In Vivo, and Simultaneous Coding—followed by Pattern Coding in the Second Cycle. This approach prioritised participant perspectives and preserved the integrity of information prior to thematic development. Findings reveal that ecocide is deeply intertwined with histories of neocolonialism, the cataclysmic effects of the genocide-ecocide nexus, and systemic political and legal neglect. Participants frequently expressed ecocide in terms of cultural erasure, environmental harm, detrimental effect on human life and community disempowerment. The study concludes that ecocide must be understood as a form of state-sanctioned violence with political, social, and legal implications. It calls for the inclusion of ecocide in international legal frameworks and highlights the importance of bolstering the capacities of vulnerable regions through the core principles of preparedness, funding, and prioritisation of local community needs.}},
  author       = {{Venkatachalapathy, Shravan and Simic, Szebasztián}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Ecocide Under Occupation and Conflict: The Cases of Palestine and Sudan}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}