Yessenia Fuentes, an environmental journalist and the editor-at-large at Atmos Magazine, is committed to creating change through her journalism. Her article critically examines the ongoing genocide on the Palestinians, linking in to larger colonial, imperial, and environmental forces. Israeli attacks on Palestine since October 7th, 2023 were likely motivated by the extensive fossil fuel reservoir in Palestine. Under Israeli occupation, Palestinians cannot mine the oil in their land or develop cleaner energy systems. Historically, colonization and occupation in the Middle East coincided with the discovery and mining of oil, preventing occupied communities from experiencing the economic benefits of oil in addition to the often violent militarization of their land. Environmental activists aim to stop the mining and use of oil and return Palestine to its restorative initiatives before Israeli occupation. Despite the genocide, Palestinians are preserving their culture and fighting against colonization.
