Palestinian’s Abbas accuses Israel of ‘causing thirst’ in Gaza
Palestinian President Abbas accuses Israel of “deliberately causing thirst” and spreading diseases in Gaza, intensifying the water crisis on World Water Day
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Friday accused Israel of exacerbating the water crisis in the Gaza Strip as he marked World Water Day on Friday.
He claimed that Israeli actions were “deliberately causing thirst” and spreading diseases among Palestinians. The accusations were made in a statement reported by the Palestinian news agency WAFA.
During his address, Abbas highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, where residents face severe water scarcity and deteriorating health conditions.
“World Water Day this year comes at a time when our Palestinian people in Gaza are experiencing, like never before, the most heinous inhuman crimes of the occupation, which have claimed the lives of thousands of innocent victims, including martyrs, wounded, mostly children, women, and elderly,” Abbas stated.
Abbas detailed the hardships faced by Gazans, who queue for hours to obtain minimal amounts of water amidst Israeli bombardments. He attributed the malfunctioning of sewage systems and the flooding of wastewater to Israeli aggression, which he claimed also targeted the water and sewage sectors, depriving residents of essential life components.
Dire water shortage: Impact on Gaza’s population
Pointing to the worsening water scarcity, Abbas noted that the per capita water share in Gaza is a mere 3 liters per day – significantly below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended minimum of 120 liters for normal use and 15 liters for survival. “It means that the individual’s share of water in Gaza is equivalent to 2.5% of the WHO recommended level and 20% of the minimum needed for survival,” he explained.
The president criticized the longstanding water dispute with Israel, accusing it of hindering the development of Gaza’s water and sewage sector to control water resources. He lamented the international community’s inaction while Palestinian children are forced to drink contaminated water, leading to deaths from thirst.
Calls for international action
Abbas called for immediate international intervention to halt what he described as “brutal aggression” against Palestinians and to facilitate the entry of medical supplies, food, and necessities into Gaza. He emphasized the need for international support to end the occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza, initiated by Israel on Oct. 6, has led to a humanitarian crisis, with significant civilian casualties and shortages of essential supplies, according to Palestinian and U.N. data. The international community has closely watched the situation, with Israel facing charges of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice for the first time over its actions in Gaza.
Source: Newsroom
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