Watan-The Palestinian Center for Human Rights stated that the Israeli occupation is using “thirst” as a weapon to make the Gaza Strip uninhabitable, warning of an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe” threatening the lives of Palestinians by depriving them of access to clean and safe water.
In a statement issued Saturday to mark World Water Day (March 22), the Center warned of a disaster threatening the lives of 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, who are living under horrific conditions that amount to a slow death—through systematic denial of clean and safe water sources.
The Center emphasized that Israel continues to use thirst and water cuts as part of what it described as a crime of genocide, coinciding with World Water Day. It noted that Gaza’s water infrastructure, including desalination and wastewater treatment facilities, has suffered massive destruction as a result of the military offensive Israel has launched on the Strip since October 7, 2023.
Electricity Cut Worsens Gaza Water Crisis
In addition to the destruction, the Center said that the Israeli decision to cut the already limited electricity supply to Gaza’s central desalination plant has worsened the humanitarian and water crisis.
On March 9, Israel’s public broadcaster announced that Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen had ordered an immediate halt to the supply of electricity to Gaza. Until then, Israel had been providing a limited amount of power—five megawatts—used exclusively to operate the central desalination plant, following international and UN intervention. This supply ended on March 9.
The human rights center stressed that these acts fall under “an escalation in the genocide against Palestinians, aimed at rendering the Gaza Strip uninhabitable and uprooting the Palestinian presence from it.” It added that large areas of Gaza now lack drinking water or water suitable for human use due to the vast destruction caused by the war.
Amid the worsening water crisis, the Center noted that Palestinians are now forced to rely on “very limited and contaminated” water supplies, pointing out that per capita water availability has dropped from 86 liters per day before October 2023 to just 3–12 liters per day.
85% of Gaza’s Water Facilities Destroyed
The Center cited a joint statement by the Palestinian Water Authority and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, which reported that Israel has completely or partially destroyed more than 85% of Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure, rendering it non-functional.
According to an assessment by Oxfam, the damage includes 1,675 kilometers of water and sewage networks, 85 desalination plants, 246 wells, and the destruction of 40 large water tanks.
The Center called on the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation to declare Gaza an environmentally devastated zone due to the collapse of water and sanitation systems, which has led to the spread of infectious diseases and epidemics.
It also stressed the need to hold the occupying state fully accountable for the catastrophe and to compel it to respect the right to water and sanitation services for Gaza’s population, including obligations to protect civilian infrastructure essential for survival.
Since Israel resumed its war on Gaza at dawn last Tuesday through Saturday, 634 Palestinians have been killed and 1,172 others injured—most of them women and children—according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.
This escalation, which Tel Aviv said is being carried out in full coordination with Washington, represents the most significant breach of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Israel has refused to implement the second phase of the deal after completing the first phase in early March, despite Hamas fulfilling all terms of the agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to proceed with the next stage under pressure from extremists in his government.
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