'Israel' to utilize water supply to drive people out of northern Gaza

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
15 Oct 2023 20:27

The Israeli occupation turns the water back on for the people of southern Gaza in coordination with the US as it seeks to force people out of the north.

Palestinians wait at the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, occupied Palestine, Oct. 14, 2023 (AP)

The Israeli occupation informed White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan that Israeli officials informed him that water pipes in southern Gaza were turned back on after the citizens of Gaza spent days without any water due to the stifling, aggressive Israeli policies.

The decision to turn on the water supplies was announced during CNN's State of the Union show, wherein Sullivan made the revelation as the world braces for a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

"I have been in touch with my Israeli counterparts just within the last hour who reported to me that they have, in fact, turned the water pipe back on in southern Gaza," Sullivan said.

Moreover, reports suggest that the decision was agreed upon by US President Joe Biden.

On his part, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that the decision to renew water supplies to parts of southern Gaza was agreed on between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden, highlighting the latter's complicity in the oppression of the people of Gaza.

The decision to partially renew water supplies was in line with the Israeli policy, he underlined, which he went on to explain was tightening the blockade on Gaza.

The Israeli occupation is trying to drive the Palestinian people from northern Gaza into its South in a bid to empty the Strip's north in preparation for a ground invasion that would take the lives of thousands of people were it to take place.

1.1 million must flee

This comes after the Israeli occupation army said in a statement that 1.1 million people living in northern Gaza must evacuate within the next 24 hours, hinting at plans to start a much-feared ground invasion of the devastated Strip that has been under nonstop bombing since last Saturday.

The Israeli occupation, as it pushed people out of northern Gaza, killed the convoys of civilians fleeing the territory.

Hamas’ media office said warplanes struck cars fleeing south, killing more than 70 people.

Hamas called on people to disregard the evacuation warning in protest of the Israeli agenda. On that note, medical personnel at hospitals refused to leave, expressing their inability to leave behind patients in need.

Responding to the Israeli announcement, earlier, the United Nations warned that over a million people fleeing into southern Gaza would be "impossible" to take place, sounding the alarm on "devastating humanitarian consequences.”

"The United Nations strongly appeals for any such order, if confirmed, to be rescinded avoiding what could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation," the UN said in a statement.