Rafah municipality in Gaza condemns Israeli attack on drinking water reservoir

The municipality of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip condemned the Israeli army’s bombing of a water reservoir in Tal al-Sultan as a severe breach of humanitarian standards.

Mayor Ahmed Soufi called the attack a “crime against humanity” and criticized it as part of a broader policy of collective punishment.

The destruction of the reservoir has intensified the already critical water crisis in the area.

Soufi urged international bodies to intervene to stop what he described as crimes by the Israeli occupation.

The Israeli army has confirmed responsibility for the bombing and has initiated an investigation, according to the Israeli daily Haaretz.

A video posted by a soldier, which showed the explosion with a provocative caption, has further fueled tensions.

Local activists have circulated footage of the soldier planting the explosive device at the reservoir.

The ongoing conflict has seen repeated accusations against the Israeli military for deliberately targeting water infrastructure, worsening the crisis amid fuel restrictions that impact desalination facilities.

Despite a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire, Israel faces growing international condemnation over its offensive on Gaza, which has resulted in significant casualties and widespread devastation.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has recently accused Israel of genocide, demanding an end to military operations in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge before the city’s invasion on May 6.