Israeli airstrikes on municipal services in the Gaza Strip

Israeli airstrikes on municipal services in the Gaza Strip
Part of the bombing of Gaza and the Israel–Hamas war

Extensive destruction to infrastructure and services in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli airstrikes during the Israel–Hamas war.
Date7 October 2023 – present
Location
Gaza Strip, Palestine
Belligerents
 Israel Hamas
Strength
  • No airforce

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been accused of targeting municipal services in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. as part of the ongoing Israel–Hamas war. The service sector in the region has been repeatedly bombed by the IDF, with a large number of workers in this field killed as a result and the destruction of several municipal facilities and vehicles that provide services to Palestinian citizens.[2][3]

Those attacks also included the destruction of roads and most of the essential service infrastructure such as water tanks, sewage stations, and wells, which the IDF say are built on top of tunnels belonging to Hamas.[4] The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported in October 2023 that typically, 90% of Gaza's tap water is considered undrinkable, and this situation is exacerbated during times of conflict.[5]

Spokespeople for the IDF and the Israeli government say that the bombings are targeting Hamas leaders, allegedly responsible for the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[6]

Key bombings

  • Bombing the sewage infrastructure in Gaza and other cities in the strip.[7]
  • Bombing large water tanks in Beit Lahia and around half of the main usable wells in Jabalia and others.[8][9]
  • Preventing the transfer of solid waste to the main landfills in the eastern areas of the strip, like Juhor ad-Dik, resulting in the accumulation of thousands of tons within cities.[10]
  • Bombing industrial facilities leading to the contamination of groundwater and seawater in the strip.[11][better source needed]
  • Bombing the Gaza municipal garage and its maintenance workshop, with a threat to the historic municipal building dating back to 1893.[12]
  • A power generator plant with four major generators in Bureij was bombed.[13][better source needed]
  • The Gaza Municipality's emergency committee stated that Israel had destroyed at least one million square meters of Gaza City roads and stated that municipal "services like water, sanitation, and waste management" had been affected.[14][15]
  • In June 2024, the UN estimated Israeli bombardment had destroyed or damaged 70% of Gaza's water and sanitation plants.[16]
  • In August 2024, Israeli forces targeted water treatment facilities in the Gaza Strip.[17]
  • In October 2024, Israel bombed four water engineers operating in a clearly-marked vehicle with prior authorization and coordination from Israeli authorities.[18]

Impacts

By June 2024, the destruction of municipal services had led to overflowing sewage, large trash garbage piles, and the spread of diseases such as hepatitis and cholera.[19] UNICEF warned that the destruction of municipal services had cut off "reliable access to safe water, toilets and washing facilities" which was causing disease and chronic diarrhoea among children.[20] In July 2024, nine months of Israeli air campaigns severely damaged Gaza's power facilities, leaving portions of the population without any electricity.[21]

Reactions

In May 2024, Yahya Al-Sarraj, the mayor of Gaza City, stated, "The Israeli occupation systematically targeted municipal services and facilities in the Gaza Strip... We have great challenges, the most important of which is providing water and sanitation services."[22] In October 2024, a group of U.S. doctors signed a letter to the Biden Administration, stating that due to the destruction of Gaza's water infrastructure, there was "literally no potable water in Gaza".[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ Frias, Lauren. "The 3 US-made fighter jets Israel is using in its air war over Gaza". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  2. ^ بلدية غزة...استهداف الخدمات الأساسية يُعقّد الوضع الانساني، قناة فلسطين اليوم Archived 2023-11-26 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ العدو الصهيوني يقصف مبنى بلدية غزة وشاحنة تقلّ نازحين جنوب غرب مدينة غزة، سبا نت Archived 2023-11-16 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ العدوان يتواصل.. بلدية غزة: الغارات استهدفت البنى التحتية والاحتلال يتحدث عن قصف شبكة أنفاق عملاقة، الجزيرة نت
  5. ^ With No Water or Electricity From Israel, Gazans Risk Dehydration and Disease, Haaretz
  6. ^ Israel strikes dense Gaza camp, says it kills Hamas commander, Reuters
  7. ^ مياه الصرف الصحي في غزة قنبلة موقوتة تفاقم معاناة النازحين، الجزيرة نت Archived 2023-11-23 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ قصف الآبار ومضخات المياه يخلق أزمة كبيرة في شمال قطاع غزة، الجزيرة نت Archived 2023-11-28 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ لجنة الطوارىء في بيت لاهيا: الاحتلال يتعمد قصف آبار وخزانات المياه بغزة، قدس برس Archived 2023-11-08 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ بلدية غزة: قوات إسرائيلية تمنع عودة المواطنين لمنازلهم، وكالة الأناضول Archived 2023-11-28 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ الحرب على غزة وموضوع تلوث المياه، جريدة الأيام Archived 2023-11-28 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ الموقع الرسمي لبلدية غزة Archived 2023-11-26 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Crucial power generators targeted, catch fire in central Gaza". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Gaza municipal official: Israel destroyed 1 million square metres of roads in Gaza". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Gaza municipality calls on international groups to provide essential aid". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  16. ^ Shurafa, Wafaa. "Palestinians are surrounded by sewage and garbage as summer Gaza heat continues". PBS. Associated Press. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Israeli attacks target Gaza water treatment facilities". YouTube. Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Oxfam condemns killing of water engineers in Gaza". Oxfam. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  19. ^ Shurafa, Wafaa; Frankel, Julia. "In the searing heat of the Gaza summer, Palestinians are surrounded by sewage and garbage". Associated Press. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Children in Gaza need life-saving support". UNICEF. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  21. ^ "Israeli strikes on Gaza's power facilities leave Palestinians without electricity". YouTube. Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Water, sanitation services in Gaza City remain a severe challenge: Mayor". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  23. ^ Karanth, Sanjana. "Nearly 100 U.S. Health Workers Who Served In Gaza Demand Arms Embargo To Israel". HuffPost. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
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