DayofPal– Ten-year-old Ahmed Abu Al-Sheikh sat atop the rubble of his destroyed home in Gaza’s Shuja’iyya neighborhood, his eyes fixed on the empty street. He clutched an empty plastic container, hoping to fill it with clean water for his family’s Ramadan iftar. But the wait stretched on, and the water cart never arrived.
Inside their makeshift shelter, where ten family members shared a single, crumbling room, thirst had become a relentless nightmare. With border crossings shut and fuel supplies blocked, desalination plants had ceased operation, leaving Gaza’s residents in a desperate search for water.
Ahmed and his older brother decided to make the trek to the nearest water station, having no other choice but to cling to the last shreds of hope. When they arrived, they found a long line—dozens of weary figures clutching empty bottles, their eyes filled with silent prayers.
But hope was quickly crushed. A station worker’s voice rang out like a cold verdict: “The pumps have stopped. There’s no more water.”
A Weapon of War
The deliberate deprivation of water has become a brutal weapon in the broader war waged by Israel under the leadership of accused war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu.
By systematically dismantling Gaza’s water infrastructure, restricting fuel imports, and choking off vital resources, the Israeli forces have forced Palestinians into catastrophic conditions.
As the first phase of a fragile ceasefire came to an end, Israel refused to proceed with the second phase, instead escalating its threats. The closure of border crossings, the denial of aid, and the prevention of fuel deliveries have reignited fears of starvation and dehydration in Gaza.
Ahmed, still clutching his empty container, trudged home with heavy steps. His parched lips trembled as he faced his younger siblings, their sunken eyes pleading for relief. That moment, more than any other, made him understand the meaning of helplessness.
Back Home Without Water?
Six-year-old Adam Hajjaj had spent the morning watching the last drops trickle from the tap near the ruins of his family’s home. He stretched out his tiny hands, hoping to catch the precious liquid, but it was barely enough to dampen his lips.
At noon, his mother took his hand and set out to find water. Carrying a single plastic container, they joined a queue stretching for dozens of meters. Men, women, and children stood patiently, not just because water was a necessity, but because it had become a treasure.
After three long hours, their turn finally came. Adam’s heart pounded with excitement. But just as they reached the front, a worker delivered the devastating news: “The water has run out. No more for today.”
Adam turned to his mother, his eyes welling with tears. In a trembling voice, he whispered, “Will we go home without water?”
That day, Adam and his mother returned empty-handed. But they carried with them a bitter lesson, in Gaza, even water can become poisonous dream.
System on the Brink of Collapse
Gaza relies on three main water sources: groundwater wells, desalination plants, and limited water purchased from Israel’s Mekorot company. However, Israel has systematically destroyed much of Gaza’s water infrastructure.
Two of the three desalination plants have shut down due to fuel shortages, while the third operates at just 5% capacity.
Mekorot, which previously supplied 52,000 cubic meters of water per day to Gaza, cut off the flow completely at the start of the war. Although partial supply was restored in November 2023, it remains insufficient
Salama Maarouf, head of Gaza’s government media office, has warned that Israel’s blockade and fuel restrictions are pushing Gaza toward an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.
“The infrastructure is collapsing. Water stations have stopped, sewage is flooding the streets, and garbage is piling up,” Maarouf stated, adding that without immediate international intervention, essential services, including hospitals, will come to a complete halt.
As Ramadan continues, Gaza’s residents are left in cruelty. For them, thirst is not just a hardship, but a deliberate form of collective punishment. And unless the siege is lifted, the simple act of drinking water will remain a distant dream.
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