The Israeli army on Saturday stopped the flow of water from the Israeli company Mekorot to the Gaza Strip, effectively cutting off 70 percent of the enclave’s total water supply.
Gaza municipality spokesman Hosni Mehanna said the shutdown affects the main pipeline located in the Shujaiya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, where Israeli forces have been carrying out a military operation since Thursday.
“The reasons for the cutoff remain unclear, but we are coordinating with international organizations to check whether the pipeline was damaged due to heavy Israeli bombardment in the area,” said Mehanna.
He added that the shutdown could have been caused by direct military activity or may have resulted from a deliberate political decision by Israeli authorities.
“Regardless of the cause, the consequences are dire. If the water flow from Mekorot is not restored soon, Gaza will face a complete water supply crisis,” warned Mehanna.
The Gaza Strip, already suffering from a chronic shortage of clean water due to years of blockade, infrastructure collapse, and underground water contamination, now faces the risk of widespread dehydration, as humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate.
More than 50.000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the Israeli military offensive since October 2023. The military campaign resumed in March after nearly two months of truce.
