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 \u00ab\u00a0deliberately reducing\u00a0\u00bb 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.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0By persistently, systematically and widely targeting water sources and desalination plants in the Gaza Strip, (Israel) is using water as a weapon against Palestinian civilians,\u00a0\u00bb the Observatory warned in its latest report.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0Due 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,\u00a0\u00bb 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.<\/p>\n
The Observatory states that more than 700 wells and water desalination plants have been destroyed since the start of the genocide.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0All areas of the Gaza Strip are experiencing water shortages and the sewage system is collapsing,\u00a0\u00bb it warned, cautioning against \u00ab\u00a0the accumulation of contaminated water due to inoperative treatment plants\u00a0\u00bb due to lack of fuel.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Denouncing Israel’s \u00ab\u00a0crimes and arbitrary policies\u00a0\u00bb, 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.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0This 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,\u00a0\u00bb the organization regrets.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Consumption of this water, it continued, \u00ab\u00a0leads to high blood pressure, kidney diseases, increased risk of stroke, intestinal and gastric diseases, constant vomiting and diarrhea\u00a0\u00bb.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0These effects ultimately result in excessive dehydration of body tissues, particularly brain tissues,\u00a0\u00bb it explained.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court provides that intentionally starving civilians by \u00ab\u00a0depriving them of objects indispensable to their survival, including willfully impeding relief supplies\u00a0\u00bb constitutes a war crime.<\/p>\n
Israel \u00ab\u00a0has 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,\u00a0\u00bb the Observatory maintains.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"