The Zionist entity uses water as a weapon against Palestinian civilians

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor has denounced Israel’s use of water as a weapon against Palestinian civilians, stating that the occupying power is « deliberately reducing » the amount of water available to residents of the Gaza Strip, particularly sources of drinking water, intentionally targeting over 2.3 million people living there as part of its genocide.

« By persistently, systematically and widely targeting water sources and desalination plants in the Gaza Strip, (Israel) is using water as a weapon against Palestinian civilians, » the Observatory warned in its latest report.

According to this organization, since October 2023, the per capita share of water in the Gaza Strip has decreased by 97% due to Israel’s massive destruction of water infrastructure.

« Due to the genocide, the amount of water per capita in the Gaza Strip has fallen to between 3 and 15 liters per day, whereas in 2022 it was about 84.6 liters per day, » it specified, noting that this amount is far less than the minimum amount of water needed for survival at the level required by international standards.

The Observatory states that more than 700 wells and water desalination plants have been destroyed since the start of the genocide.

« All areas of the Gaza Strip are experiencing water shortages and the sewage system is collapsing, » it warned, cautioning against « the accumulation of contaminated water due to inoperative treatment plants » due to lack of fuel.

The continued destruction and devastation by the Israeli army is making the Gaza Strip unlivable, especially after the occupier destroyed 9 out of 10 water reservoirs and half of the water networks, or 350 km out of 700 km, according to data published by this observatory.

Denouncing Israel’s « crimes and arbitrary policies », the Observatory maintains that the six wastewater treatment plants have been disrupted, about 65 wastewater pumps have been shut down and 70 km of sewage networks destroyed.

« This results in an uncontrolled discharge of wastewater, estimated at 130,000 cubic meters per day, onto the roads of the Gaza Strip and into shelters for displaced persons, » the organization regrets.

The lack of drinking water in the Gaza Strip has become a matter of life and death, with residents currently forced to drink untreated well water due to incessant Israeli attacks and lack of food, water and fuel, it added, warning of the dangers of excessive consumption of non-potable salt water.

Consumption of this water, it continued, « leads to high blood pressure, kidney diseases, increased risk of stroke, intestinal and gastric diseases, constant vomiting and diarrhea ».

« These effects ultimately result in excessive dehydration of body tissues, particularly brain tissues, » it explained.

Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor recalls in this context that international humanitarian law prohibits attacking, destroying or disrupting vital facilities necessary for the survival of the civilian population, such as drinking water facilities and networks.

As the occupying power, Israel is obliged under international humanitarian law to meet the basic needs of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip and protect them.

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court provides that intentionally starving civilians by « depriving them of objects indispensable to their survival, including willfully impeding relief supplies » constitutes a war crime.

Israel « has been committing acts of genocide against the civilian population of the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, in accordance with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and relevant international judicial decisions, » the Observatory maintains.