Israel has cut off power to two desalination plants in the Deir Al-Balah area of central Gaza, leaving thousands of Palestinians without access to water, according to the local municipality.
In a statement, the Deir Al-Balah Municipality confirmed that the South Sea Desalination Plant and the Basra Desalination Plant ceased operations after Israeli forces interrupted the electricity supply. The plants together produce approximately 20,000 cubic metres of desalinated water daily, providing around 70 per cent of the area’s water needs.
Maher Ashour Salem, Director General of Planning, Water, and Sanitation in Gaza, expressed concern that the available water supply has dwindled to less than 25 per cent of normal levels, due to Israel’s destruction of key water supply lines.
He further warned of a potential humanitarian disaster if the Israeli water company halts its supply, which currently accounts for 80 per cent of Gaza’s available water.
Salem highlighted the dire situation, noting the loss of this vital water source would have severe consequences for domestic use, hospitals, and shelters, especially as alternative water sources are almost non-existent due to the destruction of over three-quarters of the region’s water wells.
This decision came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, following the conclusion of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
