JERUSALEM /PNN/
A new report by Médecins Sans Frontières says Israeli authorities have used access to water as a “weapon” in Gaza, depriving Palestinians of essential supplies in what the group described as a systematic campaign with severe humanitarian consequences.
The report, titled “Water as a Weapon: Israel’s Destruction and Deprivation of Water and Sanitation in Gaza,” documents what MSF said is a pattern of restricting and damaging water infrastructure, alongside broader impacts of the war, including civilian casualties, displacement and the collapse of health services.
MSF called on Israeli authorities to “immediately restore” water access to required levels across Gaza and urged Israel’s allies to use their influence to ensure humanitarian access, including for water and sanitation systems.
“Israeli authorities know that without water life ends, yet they have deliberately and systematically destroyed water infrastructure in Gaza while consistently blocking water-related supplies,” said Claire San Filippo, MSF’s emergency manager.
The report said Palestinians have been injured or killed while attempting to access water, with violent incidents occurring during distribution efforts. It also cited cases in which water trucks and boreholes were reportedly targeted or damaged.
Israel has damaged or destroyed nearly 90% of Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure, according to the report, including desalination plants, pipelines and sewage systems. The damage, combined with restrictions on fuel, electricity and essential supplies, has significantly limited water production and distribution.
MSF said its teams, among the largest providers of drinking water in Gaza, struggled to meet demand, noting that between May and November 2025, one in five of its water distributions ran out due to shortages.
The group also said Israeli authorities have restricted the entry of key materials needed for water systems, including generators, pumps, chlorine and desalination units, with many requests either rejected or left unanswered.
The lack of water has had wide-ranging impacts on health and living conditions, the report said, contributing to the spread of diseases and undermining hygiene and dignity, particularly for women and vulnerable groups.
MSF said people in Gaza have been forced to rely on unsafe sanitation practices, including makeshift toilets, increasing contamination risks. The organization reported rising cases of respiratory infections, skin diseases and diarrheal illnesses linked to poor living conditions and water shortages.
The report underscores the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where access to basic services remains severely constrained amid ongoing conflict.