TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - More than 700 Palestinians, most of whom are children, were killed by Israeli soldiers while collecting water since October 2023, Gaza authorities revealed on Monday.
"The Israeli occupation continues to wage a systematic and deliberate war of thirst against the Palestinian people in Gaza, in a flagrant violation of all international and humanitarian conventions," stated the official Gaza media office as quoted by Anadolu and Middle East Monitor.
The office accused Israeli forces of using water as a weapon of war "to deprive the Palestinians of their most basic rights."
It was mentioned that Israeli soldiers had carried out 112 massacres of Gaza residents collecting water, resulting in the deaths of over 700 people, most of whom were children, since October 2023.
On Sunday, at least 12 people, including eight children, were killed by Israeli gunfire while waiting to collect water at the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
The media office stated that over 720 water wells had been deliberately destroyed by Israeli forces in Gaza.
"Attacks on water wells have deprived more than 1.25 million Palestinians of access to clean water," it stated.
According to the statement, Israeli forces had blocked the entry of 12 million liters of fuel every month, the amount needed to operate water wells, waste disposal stations, garbage collection mechanisms, and other vital sectors that are in short supply in Gaza.
"This has caused a complete paralysis in water and sewage networks and the spread of epidemics, mainly among the children."
The media office urged the international community and human rights organizations to take immediate action to stop Israel's systematic and deliberate use of water as a weapon of war. They also requested the provision of fuel and heavy equipment needed to put the water wells and drainage stations back into operation.
Israel has closed the Gaza crossings for food, medical, and humanitarian aid since March 2. This has exacerbated the severe humanitarian crisis in the enclave, affecting 2.4 million Gaza residents. The blockade has pushed the territory into a state of famine, with many deaths reported due to starvation.
Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, Israeli forces have launched brutal attacks in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, killing more than 58,400 Palestinians so far, most of whom are women and children. Relentless bombings have destroyed the enclave and led to food shortages and the spread of diseases.
Last November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its war in the enclave.
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