Israel hinders repair of damaged water infra deepening Gaza’s health crisis

Palestinian engineers struggle to repair Gaza’s water system, which has been contaminated, posing a health risk.Under a winter sun in Gaza City, crowds of Palestinians clutching empty containers gather around water delivery trucks. For many neighbourhoods devastated by Israel’s ongoing genocidal war, these vehicles are now the only reliable source of drinking water.The Israeli military offensive launched in October 2023 has decimated large sections of Gaza’s water infrastructure. Throughout the war, Israel repeatedly bombed water pipelines and other civilian infrastructure. As a result, pumping stations have ceased functioning, and the heavy machinery required for essential repairs lies in ruins.At the Yassin water station in northern Gaza, once a lifeline for thousands of residents, the facility is now barely functioning.Officials warn that the damage at this site alone has left tens of thousands without stable access to clean water, and the pace of repairs is crawling due to a severe Israeli blockade on equipment and spare parts.Despite the October 2025 “ceasefire”, Israel has continued to attack Gaza, killing more than 700 Palestinians while maintaining curbs on the entry of aid and other goods into Gaza – home to 2.3 million people, most of whom remain displaced. Israel, which was expected to withdraw from Gaza after the truce, still occupies more than half of Gaza.There is a wide range of goods that Israel has banned or heavily restricted from entering Gaza. This includes machinery, construction materials and even medical equipment.Last month, Israel allowed the partial reopening of the Rafah crossing – currently Gaza’s only gateway to the outside world – allowing a limited number of Palestinians to leave and enter the enclave.Scavenging for survival under blockadeThe United Nations estimates that approximately 70 percent of Gaza City’s water supply infrastructure is currently disrupted. Municipal workers on the ground say the devastation is systemic and deliberate.