Gaza Faces Severe Water Shortages

Jaxon Carey

Staff Writer

When Bassel Rajab, a 50-year-old farmer, was allowed to return to Gaza amid the ceasefire, initial hope was turned to despair when he and thousands of others realized their enemy had turned from airstrikes to dehydration. 

On Sunday, February 16, The Associated Press reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and United States President Donald Trump had a “common strategy” regarding Gaza. This comes as the  reports that President Trump said, “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing” in reference to his plan to move Palestinians out of the region. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his visit to Israel and meeting with Netanyahu, reportedly “threw his full support behind Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu” according to NBC News.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s 1.5 million people are currently facing their biggest threat yet: a lack of clean water. Reuters quotes Rajab saying, “We returned here and found no pumps, no wells… We came and set up tents to shelter in, but there is no water.” His story is similar to many in the area, with Oxfam International reporting that less than 4 percent of the freshwater in Gaza is drinkable, and the surrounding ocean water is plagued by sewage. 

The Center for Strategic and International Studies analyzes the crisis, noting that even before October 7, Gaza’s water infrastructure was vulnerable. Roughly 90 percent of the water to Gaza came from the Coastal Aquifer Basin, which is now contaminated by sewage, seawater, and chemical contamination. The other 10 percent of water came from three Israeli pipelines, which was cut off by the Israeli military on October 9, 2023. After the halt of supply of water, access to water in Gaza dropped by 95 percent from all sources. 

Once facing death from above, many Gazans are now facing death from below as a lack of clean drinking and bathing water contributes to a myriad of health issues. Doctors Without Borders reports that “Due to the lack of clean water for drinking and other needs, patients are suffering from intestinal disorders and the flu virus, which is circulating widely.” Combined with rising dehydration rates, infection, hepatitis A, and skin disease, Gazans face a variety of health issues stemming from the lack of clean water. 

With conditions deteriorating every day, an increasing amount of people suffering, and access to water well below the United Nations standards for livability in an emergency, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the United States’ plan for the relocation of Palestinians out of Gaza. EuroNews reports that Rubio stated, “What cannot continue is the same cycle where we repeat over and over again and wind up in the exact same place.” 

The U.S. plan, laid out by President Trump, highlights buying and then rebuilding the region. This plan includes the removal of Palestinians from Gaza to other places. BBC News reports that Trump stated, “They’re going to have much better housing, I’m talking about building a permanent place for them.” There appears to be discrepancies with the U.S. plan, however.  When asked by NBC News if Palestinians would have a right to return to the region, he stated: “No, they wouldn’t because they’re going to have much better housing, much better.” This contrasts the statements made by Rubio, who said the relocation would be temporary. 

ABC News quotes Rubio also saying, “If someone has a better plan, and we hope they do, if the Arab countries have a better plan, then that’s great.” Rubio will not visit Egypt or Jordan over their continued refusal to accept any Palestinian refugees. 

Image courtesy of Getty Images.