Deadly health disaster when Israel uses water as a weapon

A new Oxfam report reveals how Israel has systematically used water as a weapon against Palestinians in Gaza, showing a disregard for human life and international law. 

In the report, Water War Crimes, Oxfam found that Israel's cutting of external water supplies, systematic destruction of water facilities and deliberate prevention of humanitarian aid from reaching aid recipients has reduced the amount of water available in Gaza by 94% to 4.74 liters per day per person - just under a third of the recommended minimum amount in emergencies and less than a single toilet flush.  

Oxfam's analysis also found that: 

• Israeli military attacks have damaged or destroyed five water and sanitation infrastructure sites every three days since the beginning of the war.
  
• The destruction of water and electricity infrastructure, as well as restrictions on the entry of spare parts and fuel, has led to an 84% drop in water production in Gaza.
• External supply from Israel's national water company Mekorot has been reduced by 78%. Israel has destroyed 70% of all sewage pumps and 100% of all sewage treatment plants, as well as the main water quality testing laboratories in Gaza, and restricted the entry of Oxfam water testing equipment. 
• Gaza City has lost almost all of its water production capacity, with 88% of its water wells and 100% of its desalination plants damaged or destroyed. 

The report also highlights how this extreme lack of clean water and sanitation is seriously affecting the health of Palestinians, with more than a quarter (26%) of Gaza's population suffering from serious and easily preventable diseases. 

In January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) demanded that Israel immediately improve access to humanitarian aid given the risk of a likely genocide in Gaza. Since then, Oxfam has witnessed how Israel has continued to obstruct humanitarian efforts, resulting in more Palestinian civilian deaths.

Oxfam's water and sanitation specialist, Lama Abdul Samad, said it was clear that Israel has created a devastating humanitarian emergency resulting in more Palestinian civilian deaths. 

"We have already seen Israel's use of collective punishment and the use of starvation as a weapon of war. Now we are witnessing its use of water as a weapon, which is already having deadly consequences."

"We have already seen Israel's use of collective punishment and the use of starvation as a weapon of war. Now we are witnessing its use of water as a weapon, which is already having deadly consequences."

Lama Abdul Samad, Oxfam water and sanitation specialist

"But the deliberate restriction of access to water is not a new tactic. The Israeli government has deprived Palestinians across the West Bank and Gaza of safe and adequate access to water for many years," she said. 

"The widespread destruction and significant restrictions on relief efforts in Gaza, affecting access to water and other necessities for survival, underscore the urgent need for the international community to take decisive action to prevent further suffering by upholding justice and human rights, including those enshrined in the Geneva and Genocide Conventions." 

Monther Shoblak, Director General of the Gazan Waterworks CMWU, said:  

"My colleagues and I have been living in a nightmare for the past nine months, but we still feel it is our responsibility and duty to ensure that everyone in Gaza gets their right to clean drinking water. It has been very difficult, but we are determined to keep trying - even as we witness our colleagues being targeted and killed by Israel while doing their work."  

"My colleagues and I have been living in a nightmare for the past nine months, but we still feel it is our responsibility and duty to ensure that everyone in Gaza gets their right to clean drinking water."

Monther Shoblak, Director General of the Gazareman Waterworks CMWU

Oxfam is calling for urgent action including an immediate and permanent ceasefire; for Israel to allow a full and unhindered humanitarian response; and for Israel to pay for the reconstruction of water and sanitation infrastructure.