The government media office in Gaza accused Israeli authorities of using water as a "weapon of war and a tool of genocide" against more than 2.4 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
In an official statement, the landfill emphasized that the Israeli authorities are continuing their "systematic thirst" policy by destroying water infrastructure, preventing repairs, and cutting off vital supplies.
The statement confirmed that Israeli forces deliberately disrupted the two Mekorot water pipelines in eastern Gaza and the central governorate, depriving more than 700,000 residents of 35,000 cubic meters of water per day. They also cut off electricity to the Deir al-Balah desalination plant, bringing it to a complete standstill and threatening the lives of 800,000 others with thirst.
He pointed out that more than 90% of the Gaza Strip's water and sanitation facilities have been destroyed, and that access to fuel and technical personnel to repair the damage has been blocked. This has led to the spread of water-related diseases, such as acute diarrhea, dysentery, and hepatitis A. More than 1.7 million cases of illness and 50 deaths have been recorded, the majority of them children, due to dehydration and malnutrition.
He warned of the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which has been under siege for 18 years and subjected to continuous destruction for more than 550 days.
The statement considered the deprivation of water to be a "war crime" under the Rome Statute and "genocide" according to UN reports, denouncing the international silence regarding the violations.
He called on the international community and United Nations agencies to take urgent action to halt the "crime of dehydration" and secure the entry of fuel and repair equipment. He also called on the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including current Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and former Defense Minister Benny Gantz, for their role in turning water into a "slow-burning weapon."
The statement affirmed the responsibility of Israel, the US administration, and countries such as Britain, Germany, and France for the lives of civilians in Gaza, considering that "the use of water as a tool of murder is a crime that does not expire with time," emphasizing that these policies "reveal Israel's ugly face" without deterring the will of the Palestinian people.