Gaza Faces Severe Water Crisis as Israeli Offensive Cuts Major Supply Line:

Hundreds of thousands of residents in Gaza City have lost access to their main source of clean water after the Israeli army's renewed offensive damaged a critical pipeline, local municipal officials reported.

The pipeline, operated by Israel’s state-owned water utility Mekorot, previously supplied 70% of Gaza City’s water. Damage occurred during the military’s operations in the Shejaia neighborhood, an eastern district of the city, which has been heavily bombarded over the past week.

Residents Endure Long Walks and Shortages

With water access cut, many residents must walk long distances to remote wells to collect limited water supplies. “There are no stations and no trucks coming. There is no water,” said Faten Nassar, a 42-year-old resident.

Adel Al-Hourani, 64, added, “I get tired. I am old. I’m not young to walk around every day to get water.”

A Critical Humanitarian Challenge

Municipal spokesperson Husni Mhana described the situation as a “real thirst crisis,” warning that it could worsen in the coming days if the damage is not addressed.

According to a March 22 joint report by the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics and the Palestinian Water Authority:

Over 85% of water and sanitation infrastructure is completely or partially out of service.

Average water supply has dropped to 3–5 liters per person per day, far below the World Health Organization’s emergency minimum of 15 liters.

The Gaza Strip relies primarily on the Coastal Aquifer Basin, a heavily depleted and polluted natural water source. Prior to the current crisis, 97% of tap water was already deemed unfit for consumption due to salinity, overuse, and contamination.

Desalination Plants and Wells Out of Service

UN and Palestinian officials confirmed that most desalination plants and water wells in Gaza have been either damaged or shut down due to fuel and electricity shortages caused by ongoing conflict.

The offensive that damaged the pipeline is part of broader military operations by Israel following the October 2023 attacks by Hamas. Since then, more than 50,800 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Israel’s campaign, according to local authorities.