DayofPal– Israeli authorities have cut the only remaining power line supplying a critical desalination plant in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza in yet another blow to Gaza’s already crippled infrastructure.
The plant, which provides drinking water to thousands of displaced people, now stands at risk of shutting down entirely, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.
The move comes as part of a series of punitive measures ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against Gaza’s 2.4 million residents, who have endured a “genocidal war” for the past 15 months.
This latest restriction follows Netanyahu’s announcement halting all humanitarian aid, relief supplies, and commercial goods into the besieged enclave.
Deir Al-Balah’s mayor, Nizar Ayash, called the decision “shocking,” emphasizing that this is the only operational desalination facility in Gaza.
Before the war, the plant produced over 16,000 cubic meters of drinking water daily, serving both Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis. With millions displaced and crammed into makeshift shelters, the loss of clean water could lead to a catastrophic outbreak of disease.
“This will be an unprecedented humanitarian disaster,” Ayash warned. “We are talking about entire cities left without access to clean drinking water.”
In the early days of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, the plant operated at minimum capacity using solar panels and fuel-powered generators. But persistent fuel shortages kept it struggling to meet demand.
It was only in July 2024, thanks to intervention by international humanitarian organizations, that the plant was reconnected to a power source, bringing some relief to over a million displaced people.
Now, that lifeline has been severed once again.
Gaza’s water crisis is nothing new. Israel’s military operations have already destroyed eight water wells in Deir Al-Balah and obliterated the main “Mekorot” water pipeline supplying central Gaza.
With border crossings sealed and fuel shipments blocked, even emergency generators cannot keep the water flowing.
Health experts warn that without immediate intervention, the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera and dysentery will spiral out of control.
Municipalities across Gaza are struggling to provide even the most basic services due to the widespread destruction of infrastructure. The Union of Gaza Municipalities has issued a desperate appeal for international intervention, urging global agencies to pressure Israel into reversing its punitive measures.
“This is a deliberate act of collective punishment,” said a spokesperson for the union. “Gaza’s people are being pushed beyond the limits of human endurance. The world must act before it’s too late.”
For now, Gaza’s residents are left with dwindling resources, bracing for yet another humanitarian catastrophe, one that could have been prevented.
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