Gaza Herald – Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned on Tuesday that Israel is deliberately depriving Gaza’s population of essential water, describing the policy as part of a systematic form of collective punishment against Palestinians.
In a report titled “Water as a Weapon,” the organization stated that the widespread destruction of water infrastructure, combined with restrictions on access, constitutes an integral part of the ongoing devastation in the Gaza Strip.
The report explains that this “engineered scarcity” of water coincides with the killing of civilians and the destruction of homes and healthcare facilities, creating living conditions described as inhumane and destructive. The findings are based on data and testimonies collected throughout 2024 and 2025.
Claire San Filippo, MSF’s emergency coordinator, said that Israeli authorities are fully aware that life cannot continue without water, adding that they are engaged in the systematic destruction of water infrastructure while simultaneously restricting the entry of essential supplies needed to sustain it.
She noted that attacks have not been limited to infrastructure alone but have also targeted water trucks and wells, placing civilians at risk as they attempt to access water. According to her, Palestinians have been injured and killed simply while trying to obtain water.
The report cites data from the United Nations, the European Union, and the World Bank indicating that around 90% of Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure has been damaged or completely destroyed.
According to MSF, desalination plants, wells, pipelines, and sewage networks are either out of service or inaccessible due to ongoing restrictions and attacks.
The organization added that the crisis has worsened due to severe shortages and the denial of entry for many essential materials required to operate water systems. It noted that approximately one-third of its requests to bring in critical supplies, such as desalination units, pumps, water tanks, and treatment materials, have been rejected or received no response.
MSF warned that the continued deprivation of water, combined with severe overcrowding and the collapse of the healthcare system, is creating an environment highly conducive to the spread of diseases and epidemics.
The organization called for the immediate restoration of water access to Gaza’s population and urged Israel’s allies to apply effective political pressure to ensure the entry of humanitarian aid and to end restrictions on vital supplies.
