'Israel' using water as weapon of war: Authorities
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The ongoing Israeli war has destroyed over 700 wells and desalination plants, drastically reducing Gaza's water availability.
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A displaced child carries filled water bottles at a makeshift tent camp in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, August 29, 2024. (AP)
The Water Authority in Gaza reported that water purchases from the Israeli company Mekorot totaled 13.8 million cubic meters in 2024, costing over 54 million shekels ($14.8 million).
According to the authority, water supplies have dropped significantly since October 2023, decreasing from 18.5 million cubic meters to 13.8 million cubic meters. This reduction is described as part of the occupation’s punitive measures and its use of water as a weapon in its ongoing aggression.
Efforts are underway to distribute the limited water supply to Gaza's northern, central, and southern regions to provide potable water for its population. The authority is also working to repair, maintain, and rehabilitate damaged water infrastructure, including lines, reservoirs, and desalination stations. Additionally, they are striving to secure the necessary fuel to operate these facilities' inaccessible areas to maintain water pumping operations.
Even before October 2023, Gaza’s water supply was inadequate for its 2.3 million residents. Following the ongoing Israeli war, the United Nations estimates that the average Gaza resident now survives on just three liters of water per day for all needs—well below the emergency standard of 15 liters.
The ongoing Israeli war has destroyed over 700 wells and desalination plants, drastically reducing Gaza's water availability. Furthermore, "Israel" has forced the shutdown of all five wastewater treatment plants and most of the 65 sewage pumping stations due to a lack of fuel and electricity required to operate these essential services.
'Israel' weaponizing water against Palestine since 1993: Oxfam
In July, the International humanitarian organization Oxfam strongly criticized the Israeli occupation for employing water deprivation as a method of warfare against the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
In a report published, Oxfam condemned what it described as a systematic and deliberate tactic that violates international law and constitutes a blatant disregard for human life.
The report highlights that since the 1993 Oslo Accords, the Israeli occupation has utilized water deprivation to "dehumanize and ultimately threaten Palestinian lives."
The near-total destruction of Gaza's water and sanitation infrastructure by Israeli military actions has, according to Oxfam, significantly contributed to causing and exacerbating the dire living conditions in the blockaded Strip.
Key findings of the report indicate that the water supply in Gaza has been slashed by 94%, leaving residents with less than five liters of water per person per day - far below the minimum emergency threshold recommended by international standards.
"Israel's actions have deprived the entire population of Gaza of life-saving water and sanitation services, creating unavoidable immediate and long-term threats to people's health and survival," the report stated.
The lack of clean water and sanitation has led to a quarter of Gaza's population suffering from preventable diseases.
