health
April 28, 2026
Doctors Without Borders Denounces Israel's Alleged Use of Water as a Weapon in Gaza and Warns of Infrastructure Destruction
Portafolio Journalist 04/28/2026 10:53 Updated: 04/28/2026 10:58
TL;DR
- Doctors Without Borders (MSF) alleges Israel is using water access as a pressure tactic in Gaza.
- A report titled 'Water as a weapon' details a "collective punishment campaign" against the population.
- Nearly 90% of water and sanitation infrastructure in Gaza has been destroyed or damaged, according to MSF, citing UN, EU, and World Bank data.
- Affected infrastructure includes desalination plants, wells, pipelines, and sewage systems.
- MSF documented attacks on water tanker trucks and destruction of wells.
- Water scarcity is so severe that basic needs cannot be met, even with humanitarian aid.
- Orders for displacement have limited MSF's access to previously served areas.
- Obstacles to the entry of water and sanitation equipment have been constant since October 2023.
- A third of requests for equipment like desalination units and pumps have been rejected or unanswered.
- Lack of sanitation leads to improvised solutions, increasing health risks and the spread of diseases like respiratory infections, skin diseases, and diarrhea.
- MSF calls for restored water access and the removal of restrictions on humanitarian aid.
- International allies are urged to pressure for the entry of essential supplies.