Human Rights Watch Accuses Israel of 'Genocide' Over Water Situation in Gaza

Human Rights Watch announced that Israel has 'deliberately' restricted Palestinians' access to water in the Gaza Strip, an action that could constitute 'genocide.' Israel rejected the report from this organization. Human Rights Watch, based in the United States, published a report on Thursday, December 20, indicating that over the course of a year, from October 2023 to September 2024, Palestinians have been deprived of the minimum water required according to World Health Organization standards for survival in prolonged emergencies due to decisions made by Israeli officials. The World Health Organization has assessed that each person needs 50 to 100 liters of water per day to meet basic needs, while in prolonged emergency conditions, 15 to 20 liters for drinking and washing may be sufficient daily; however, even this minimum amount has not been available to 2.3 million residents of Gaza. Human Rights Watch has assessed that Israel has deliberately created barriers to water purification and production, depriving Gaza residents of access to clean water, and its bombings during the war have caused extensive damage to water infrastructure. In its approximately 180-page report, this human rights organization stated that the water crisis has exacerbated diseases in Gaza and led to the deaths of thousands, while the consequences of water scarcity 'may never be fully understood.' Human Rights Watch cited diseases such as polio, bacterial infections leading to diarrhea, hepatitis A, skin diseases, and respiratory infections. Amnesty International also reported on December 6 that Israel's actions in Gaza during the ongoing war constitute 'genocide,' stating that the country has unleashed 'hell and destruction' in Gaza. Israel, which has rejected previous reports regarding 'genocide' and the use of hunger as a 'weapon of war' against Gaza residents during the past 14 months of conflict, also dismissed Human Rights Watch's report. An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that the report is 'full of lies.' Oren Marmurstein, the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, wrote in a message on X that his country has been 'continuously facilitating the pumping of water and humanitarian supplies to Gaza.' According to this spokesperson, Israel has also ensured that 'water infrastructure, including four water pipelines and pumping and desalination facilities, remain operational and continue to function.' The Gaza Strip has been completely dependent on Israel for water, electricity, and all basic needs during the approximately two decades it has been under the control of the extremist group Hamas, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. The Israeli military's war in Gaza began on October 6 of last year following an unprecedented surprise attack by Hamas members on Israeli territory. As the war approaches its fifteenth month and with 100 Israeli citizens still held hostage by Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, this week there have been increasing reports about Hamas and Israel nearing a ceasefire agreement through indirect negotiations facilitated by Egypt, Qatar, the Biden administration, and the transition team of Donald Trump, the elected President of the United States.