GAZA – More than 700 Palestinians—mostly children—have been killed by Zionist forces fire while trying to collect water since October 2023, according to local authorities in Gaza. In a statement released Monday, the Government Media Office in Gaza condemned what it described as a “systematic and deliberate war of thirst” waged by the Zionist entity against Palestinians, calling it a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law.
The statement said Zionist forces have carried out 112 massacres against civilians collecting water and accused the Zionist entity of deliberately targeting water infrastructure to deprive Gazans of their most basic needs. Among the deadliest recent incidents was the killing of 12 people, including eight children, on Sunday in the Nuseirat refugee camp, as they waited in line for water.
Gaza’s authorities reported that more than 720 water wells have been destroyed by Zionist strikes, leaving over 1.25 million Palestinians without access to clean water. The media office also said that the Zionist entity has blocked the monthly entry of 12 million liters of fuel, the amount needed to keep water wells, sewage treatment facilities, and waste systems operational.
As a result, much of Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure is now paralyzed, causing widespread disease, particularly among children. Authorities warned of rising epidemics due to the contamination and collapse of essential public health systems.
The media office called on the international community and human rights organizations to urgently intervene and pressure the Zionist entity to end the blockade, allow the entry of fuel and equipment, and stop using water as a method of warfare.
Since October 7, 2023, the Zionist entity has maintained a total blockade on Gaza, including the closure of all crossings to food, medicine, and humanitarian aid. Over 58,000 Palestinians have been killed during this ongoing military offensive, with women and children making up the vast majority. The blockade has plunged the territory into famine and worsened the humanitarian disaster for its 2.4 million residents.
