Medical aid organizations have raised alarms over severe water shortages and deteriorating sanitation conditions in the Gaza Strip, accusing Israeli authorities of using access to water as a tool of collective punishment amid ongoing conflict. In a report released on April 28, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said Israeli forces have systematically targeted Gaza’s water infrastructure, contributing to a humanitarian crisis marked by dehydration, disease, and escalating public health risks.

According to MSF, nearly all of Gaza’s water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems have been heavily damaged or destroyed since the start of Israel’s military operations in the area following a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on April 27 that about 96 percent of households in the densely populated enclave lack sufficient access to safe drinking water.

Claire San Filippo, MSF’s emergency manager, described deliberate destruction of water infrastructure combined with restrictions on water-related supplies as integral to what the organization characterized as a campaign that endangers civilian lives. “Israeli authorities know that without water, life ends,” San Filippo said, adding that Palestinians have been injured or killed while attempting to obtain water. The group also reported that Israeli forces had targeted water trucks and destroyed boreholes serving tens of thousands of residents.

However, the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Israeli Defense Ministry body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs, rejected these claims as unfounded.

MedGlobal, a US-based charity operating in Gaza, highlighted the scale of contamination, noting that over 90 percent of available water is unfit for consumption due to infrastructure damage and groundwater pollution. Country director Dr. Salwa Al-Tibi stressed the scarcity of water, with daily per capita access often limited to 3 to 5 liters—well below international standards that recommend a minimum of 50 to 100 liters per person for domestic use, and the World Health Organization’s emergency threshold of 7.5 to 15 liters.

The fragmented geography of Gaza, now divided into multiple operational zones by the Israeli military, has further complicated water delivery. Humanitarian groups such as UNICEF, Oxfam, and MSF continue to provide emergency water supplies, but distribution has been disrupted by displacement orders and restricted access to certain areas.

This shortage has had profound health consequences. MSF’s survey between May and August 2025 found that nearly 25 percent of respondents experienced diarrhea in the preceding month. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned on May 5 of a looming public health emergency as skin infections—including scabies and chickenpox—have surged in overcrowded camps. Rising temperatures and poor sanitation are facilitating the spread of diseases and infestations like lice, a problem exacerbated by limited access to clean water and hygiene products.

Residents describe the crisis as dire. Maysa Yousef, an artist and mother of four from central Gaza, detailed how water delivery days prompt frantic efforts to collect scarce supplies, which arrive only weekly. She also reported a significant increase in rat infestations contaminating water sources and contributing to health hazards.

Aid organizations emphasize that the collapse of Gaza’s water infrastructure threatens food security and public health, with ongoing conflict and restrictions limiting their ability to respond effectively. Although a ceasefire has been in place since October 2025, clashes continue, and both Israeli and Hamas officials accuse each other of violations, complicating efforts to stabilize the humanitarian situation.