Gaza's water supply is severely disrupted, with repairs stalled by Israeli policies, worsening a public health emergency.
In Gaza City, Palestinians are relying on water delivery trucks for drinking water amid ongoing destruction from Israel's military offensive launched in October 2023.
The offensive has bombed water pipelines and pumping stations, leaving facilities like the Yassin water station barely functional and depriving tens of thousands of clean water.
Blockade on Repairs
Israeli policies, including a blockade on equipment and spare parts classified as 'dual-use' items, are hindering restoration efforts. Officials report that 72 water wells in Gaza City have been destroyed, along with 150,000 meters of water networks and four main reservoirs.
Municipal workers, such as Hosny Afana, a municipality spokesman, state that the United Nations estimates 70 percent of Gaza City's water supply infrastructure is disrupted, forcing teams to use scavenged materials for repairs.
Despite an October 2025 ceasefire, Israel continues to restrict goods entry and occupies parts of Gaza, with crossings like Rafah only partially open for limited humanitarian cases.
The lack of clean water is fueling a health crisis, with doctors like Ghazi al-Yazji at al-Shifa Hospital reporting rises in dehydration, kidney complications, and water-borne diseases due to contamination by salts, nitrates, and other pollutants.
A United Nations Environment Programme report highlights that damaged sewage systems are contaminating Gaza's underground aquifer, compounding the crisis as families have no alternative but to use polluted water.
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